
Glass 

Book 



REPORT 



OF THE 



WOMAN'S COMMITTEE 
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 



® 



COVERING A YEAR'S ACTIVITIES 
UP TO APRIL 21, 1918 




WASHINGTON 

GOVEENMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1?I8 



REPORT 



OF THE 



WOMAN'S COMMITTEE 
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 



COVERING A YEAR'S ACTIVITIES 
UP TO APRIL 21, 1918 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1918 



•W7I/7 



PERSONNEL OF THE WOMAN'S COMMITTEE, COUNCIL OF 
NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Honorary President of National American Woman 

Suffrage Association, Chairman. 
Mrs. Philip N. Moore, of St. Louis, President of the National Council of Women. 
Mrs. Josiah E. Cowles, of California, President of the General Federation 

of Woman's Clubs. 
Miss Maude Wetmore, of Rhode Island, Chairman of National League for 

Woman's Service. 
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, of New York, President of National American 

Woman Suffrage Association. 
Mrs. Antoinette Funk, Lawyer, Chicago, 111. 
Mrs. Stanley McCormick, of Boston, Vice President National American Woman 

Suffrage Association. 
Mrs. Joseph R. Lamar, of Atlanta, Ga., President of National Society of Colonial 

Dames. 
Miss Ida M. Tarbell, of New York, publisher and writer. 
Miss Agnes Nestor, of Chicago, Vice President International Glove Workers' 

Union. 
Miss Hannah J. Patterson, of Pittsburgh, Pa. 

executive chairmen. 

Miss Helen T. Atwater, Food Production and Home Economics. 

Mrs. James R. Field, Women in Industry. 

Dr. Jessica B. Peixotto, Child Welfare. 

Miss Mary Winslow, Maintenance of Existing Social Service Agencies, and 

Health and Recreation. 
Mrs. Martha Evans Martin, Education. 
Mrs. Edmund Shelby, News. 
Miss Elizabeth Green, Information. 
Miss Grace E. Speir, Assistant to the Resident Director. 
Report compiled by Mildred V. Bennett. 

2 D. of D. 

JUN 3 1918 






TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Foreword 7 

Origin of Woman's Committee 9 

Objects 9 

Plan of organization 9 

Chart: Organization of Woman's Committee Facing 11 

National and State machinery of organization 11 

National 11 

Conference of national women's organizations 11 

Cooperation H 

Work of committee members in States 12 

Visitors from States 12 

Regular departments 12 

Department I — State organization 13 

Plan of work 13 

Local organizations 14 

Coordination of women's organizations 14 

Relation to the State council 14 

Finance 15 

Department II — Registration 16 

Objects 16 

Form of registration cards 16 

Registration in the States 16 

Registration in progress 17 

Employment bureaus 17 

General application of registration 18 

Registration as reported to date 18 

Department III — Food Production and Home Economics 19 

Cooperation with Department of Agriculture and Food Administration di- 
rectors 19 

Liberty gardens, 1917 20 

State activities 20 

Plans for work in agriculture, 1918 21 

Demonstrations in preserving food 21 

Training school for demonstrators 21 

Canning : 

In homes 22 

In clubs 22 

Community canning 22 

Community kitchens 23 

Community markets 23 

Curb markets 23 

Department IV — Food Administration 24 

Cooperation with United States Food Administration pledge campaign 24 

3 



4 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Department IV. — Food Administration — Continued. Page. 

Conservation plans ■ 24 

Community activities 25 

Hoover lunch room 25 

Food conservation in public eating places 25 

Department V — Women in Industry 26 

Cooperation with the advisory commission 26 

Purposes 26 

Survey of industrial conditions 26 

Activities of subcommittees 27 

Supplying industrial workers 27 

Supplying clerical workers 28 

Committee on standards 28 

Survey of Government contract labor conditions 28 

Protective measures 29 

Difficulties 29 

Department VI— Child Welfare 29 

Cooperation with the Children's Bureau and General Medical Board 29 

Enforcement of child-labor laws 29 

Permanent measure for child welfare 30 

Children's year 30 

Aims 31 

Type plan 31 

Health charts 32 

Legislative work 32 

Department VII — Maintenance of Existing Social Service Agencies 32 

Cooperation with social welfare agencies 32 

Purposes 32 

Plan in operation 32 

Survey of nurses 33 

Public health classes 33 

Department VIII — Health and Recreation 34 

Cooperation with commission on training camp activities 34 

Recreational centers 34 

Entertainments 34 

Protective work for girls 34 

Social hygiene 35 

Camp libraries 35 

Assistance of religious and secular organizations 36 

Department IX — Educational Propaganda 36 

National plan, educational propaganda 36 

Speakers' bureau 37 

Americanization 38 

Naturalization 39 

Rural educational propaganda 39 

Department X. — Liberty Loan 39 

Cooperation with National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee 39 

Plan of organization 40 

Summary of returns 40 

Children's day 40 

Returns in Nome 41 

Thrift stamp campaign 41 

Third Liberty Loan drive 41 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 5 

Pago. 

Department XI. — Home and Foreign Relief 42 

Cooperation with the American Red Cross Association 42 

Objects . 42 

War relief league 42 

Work of subcommittees 42 

Preparation for emergency work 43 

Affiliated club reports 43 

Department XII — News 44 

Purpose of news department. . •. 44 

Plan of work 44 

Newspaper publicity 44 

Magazine publicity 45 

News Letter 45 

Foreign news bureau 45 

Bureaus and publications of the State Divisions 45 

Special work 46 

National: 

Cooperation with Civil Service Commission 46 

Commercial Economy Board 46 

Ships-builders' Campaign 46 

State: 

Organization 46 

Motor messenger service 46 

Fuel Administration 47 

Summary 47 

Appended: 

List of affiliated organizations 48 

Circular letters and bulletins 50 



FOREWORD. 

The following is offered as a report of the activities of the Woman's 
Committee of the Council of National Defense covering its first year's 
work. The account of the work within the States has been compiled 
from reports submitted by the officers of the Executive Committees of 
the State Dmsions. It is by no means a complete record of all that 
has been done, but is given as an outline of the plan of organization 
and method of functioning of the Committee through the 12 National 
Departments. Much that has been accomplished in the State Divi- 
sions, in county, and local units, has never been reported to the Na- 
tional Committee, and hence is not a part of this record. It must be 
appreciated that the stress of work to be done often leaves little time 
for making a written record of it. This possibly has been the experi- 
ence of the active members in many of the State Divisions of the Wo- 
man's Committee. Details and specifically local activities have of 
necessity been omitted, and only such accounts have been incorporated 
as will convey an impression of the scope of interests and the plan of 
work. The results obtained are due very largely to the cooperation of 
women's organizations existing at the time of the creation of the 
Woman's Committee. The first year has been marked as a year of 
organization and preparation, but each portion of the organization 
has been tested for its effectiveness while the creative processes have 
been going on. The results on the whole, under these circumstances 
are gratifying, and bear intimations of greater accomplishment in 
the future. 

7 



REPORT [OF ACTIVITIES OF THE WOMAN'S COMMITTEE OF THE 
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

APRIL 21, 1917, TO APRIL 21, 1918. 



OK1GIN . 



The Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense was 
appointed by the Council of National Defense 1 April 21, 1917, in 
accordance with its powers to create "committees of specially quali- 
fied persons " for defense purposes. 

OBJECTS. 

The objects for which the Committee was appointed are to ascer- 
tain the woman power of America for the purpose of — 

1. Coordination and centralization of the organized forces of the 
women of the country; 

2. Enlistment of the cooperation of the unorganized women of the 
country, in order to: 

(a) Ascertain and report the patriotic work now being done by 
women and women's organizations; 

(b) Secure greater efficiency in defense work which women may 
do for the Nation; 

(c) Secure the cooperation of all the women of the country in eco- 
nomic measures which the Government inaugurates from time to 
time : 

(1) By furnishing a direct and speedy channel between the differ- 
ent departments of the Government and the women of the country; 

(2) By impressing upon them the vital importance of these 
weapons of economic warfare in winning of the war. 

PLAN OF ORGANIZATION. 

The Woman's Committee functions through National and State 
organization according to the following outline: 
A. National organization. 

1. Woman's Committee located in Washington. 

(a) Departments within the Woman's Committee organized for 
specific activities. 

2. Affiliated societies, national in extent. 



1 The Council of National Defense was created by act of Congress and approved Aug. 29. 
1910. It is composed of the Secretaries of War, Navy, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, 
and Labor. (Army appropriation bill, U. It. 1,7498.) 

9 
58070—18 2 



10 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

B. State organization. 

1. State divisions of the Woman's Committee. 

(a) County units. 
1 (&) Local units — township, city, ward, and precinct 

2. Departments corresponding to the Regular Departments of the Wo- 

man's Committee. 

3. Affiliated societies, State-wide in extent. 

The Woman's Committee is a clearing house for women's war work, 
with National Headquarters in Washington. The Committee pur- 
poses first, to know where and to what extent women are needed to 
assist in defense work and in the prosecution of war ; second, it aims 
to so coordinate women's organizations and direct women outside of 
organizations that the work required of women is accomplished with- 
out duplication of effort ; third, to serve as a direct, authoritative, and 
speedy channel between the Federal Government and the women of 
the Nation. 

Regular Departments are organized within the Committee for the 
purpose of ascertaining where specific service is needed and for 
formulating plans for performing that service. 

Women's organizations of national extent are affiliated for work 
with the Woman's Committee, the central organization. 

The Woman's Committee has organized State Divisions in every 
one of the 48 States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, and 
Porto Rico. The States in turn have formed county and local units 
for the purpose of reaching women in every community. Depart- 
ments are formed within the State Committee to correspond to the 
Departments of the National Committee. The specific work of these 
Departments is determined by the Department chairmen in Washing- 
ton and by State and local conditions which require attention or 
definite methods of attack. Corresponding Departments under 
county and local committees are organized as there is need. 

State-wide and local organizations of women, become affiliated with 
the corresponding unit of the State Division in the same man- 
ner in which the national association is affected. A report of what is 
being done is made by each affiliated society to the Woman's Commit- 
tee. By this means a record of what women are doing is kept by the 
central organization. 

By this plan of organization a direct channel of communication is 
formed between the Federal governmental agencies and the women 
in the local units. The requests of the Government for specific serv- 
ice are promptly transmitted by the Woman's Committee to the 
women throughout the country. Large numbers of women organized 
in clubs are brought in contact with work to be clone by women, and 
unorganized women are reached and brought into service. 

A full report of all that has been accomplished by women can 
never be made because all that has been done will never be reported. 



ORGA NIZATlON 
of the 

WOMAN'S COMM1TT 

of the 

Council of National Defe 



State 
Organization 



Real strati on 



Food 
Administration 



State 
Organization 



listration 



Food 
Administration 



foal 

"ion 



j County 
| Organization 



Registration 



Home 

and 
Torejy 'Relief 



News 



home 

and 
Foreign Relief 



News 



food 

lAdmiTiistTatioii 



Foa 
Hon 



Lou I 

Organization 



(Registration 



Food 

Administration 



Food 
;ttom 



Horne 

ana 1 

ToTeijn Relief 



Mews 



Home 

and 

Foreign Relief 



5S070— IS. (To face page 11.) 



News 



VlashincjTo-n.D.C. 
May 4-.I9I8. 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 11 

The purpose of this report at this time is to show how the Woman's 
Committee functions. The aim has been to include just enough de- 
tails to convey an understanding of — 

1. The scope of the work. 

2. The extent to which it is engaging the women of America. 

3. The effectiveness of the organization which is established by the 
Woman's Committee to operate between the National Government 
and the women of America. 

NATIONAL AND STATE MACHINERY. 

National. — The work of the Woman's Committee at the National 
Headquarters has been carried on by the members of the Committee 
who serve as officers and chairmen of the several departments, and 
by an assisting staff of executive chairmen. Circular letters and bul- 
letins are issued from time to time outlining programs of work and 
transmitting information from Federal agencies seeking the coopera- 
tion of the women of the country. There has been a large corre- 
spondence with the officers of the State Divisions and with individuals 
requesting information on an infinite variety of subjects related to 
woman's work. In addition to the daily routine of office work, the 
Committee has held monthly meetings. 

Conference of National Organizations. — In accordance with the 
duty of coordinating and centralizing the work of women through- 
out the United States, a conference of the presidents of women's or- 
ganizations was called June 19, 1917. Sixty-nine organizations re- 
sponded. Each representative outlined the war work undertaken by 
her association and pledged cooperation. Since that date 11 other 
national organizations have become affiliated with the Woman's Com- 
mittee. 

Cooperation. — The Woman's Committee is constantly in touch with 
the Federal departments in order to fulfill its functions of trans- 
mitting instructions from the various departments to the women of 
America. The Committee has been able to assist the work of the fol- 
lowing departments, bureaus, boards, and committees: 

1. Department of Treasury. 

2. Department of War. 

3. Department of Navy. 

4. Department of Interior, Bureau of Education. 

5. Department of Agriculture. 
Or. Department of Commerce. 

7. Department of Labor, Children's Bureau. 

8. United States Food Administration. 

9. Ordnance Department. 

10. Commercial Economy Board. 

11. National Chamber of Commerce. 



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WOMAN'S COMMlTUt 












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THE PRESIDENT 



COUNCIL OF NATIOKAL LEFEN5E 



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12 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

12. American Red Cross Association. 

13. Civil Service Commission. 

14. Committee on Training Camp Activities. 

15. Committee on Public Information. 

16. Committee on Nursing of the General Medical Board of the 
Council of National Defense. 

17. State Councils Section of the Council of National Defense. 
Many thousands of letters of instructions, bulletins, and leaflets 

have been distributed for these various divisions of the Government 
for the purpose of securing the assistance of the women of the country 
in the various drives and campaigns needed for the prosecution of 
the war, for conservation of food, and for recruiting for service. 

Work of Committee members hi States. — For the purpose of per- 
fecting the organization and stimulating interest throughout the 
country, members of the Committee have visited the following States : 
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of 
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ken- 
tucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, 
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, 
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, 
Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. 

Visitors from, States. — Members of the State Divisions of the Wo- 
man's Committee have visited the National Headquarters from the 
District of Columbia and the following States: California, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 
New York, North Carolina, Ohio. Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

REGULAR DEPARTMENTS. 

In order to effect the purpose for which it was created, depart- 
ments for definite lines of work were organized within the Committee. 
Several of these departments were created to correspond with Gov- 
ernment departments and committees and to serve as a channel of 
communication between the Federal Government and the women 
who are organized for action. 

Each member of the Woman's Committee serves as a member of a 
Department. It is her duty to analyze the problems presented to her 
Department, to formulate an elastic plan of work, and to supervise 
the execution of the work. In order to carry out the projects pre- 
sented by the National Departments, the State Divisions are advised 
to create corresponding departments. The chairmen of the depart- 
ments within the State may modify the plan to meet local condi- 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 13 

tions and must decide upon the detail of making it effective. The 
chairman of each national department stands ready at all times to 
give advice on questions of policy and methods of procedure. The 
Regular Departments as created are: 

1. State Organization. 

2. Eegistration. 

-°>. Food Production and Home Economics. 
4. Food Administration. 
.">. Women in Industry. 
C. Child Welfare. 

7. Maintenance of Existing Social Service Agencies. 

8. Health and Recreation. 

9. Education. 

10. Liberty Loan. 

11. Home and Foreign Relief. 

12. News. 

DEPARTMENT I. STATE ORGxVNIZATION. 

Plan of work. — The Department of State Organization has gen- 
eral supervision of perfecting the organization of the State Divi- 
sions of the Woman's Committee throughout the United States. The 
chairman of the Department has visited State Divisions in the in- 
terest of the Department and has been ready at all times to advise 
the State chairmen as to matters of policy and procedure. Ques- 
tionnaires have been submitted from time to time in order to keep 
the National Department informed as to the progress of the organi- 
zation and means of making the machinery effective in the several 
State Divisions. 

At the first meeting of the Woman's Committee on May 2, 1917, a 
plan was formulated by which the greatest number of women in the 
United States might be reached. The committee appointed in each 
State a temporary chairman whose duty it was to convene the presi- 
dents or representatives of all women's organizations State-wide in 
scope, including civic, religious, fraternal, patriotic, literary, and 
philanthropic associations, with representatives of unorganized 
women for the purpose of forming a State Committee and electing 
officers and an executive committee. The State Division of the 
Woman's Committee in intended to include all the women of the 
State. 

The essentials of the plan have been complied with in the States 
with few exceptions. Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico have formed 
local divisions which correspond to the organization within the 
States. Exceptions to this plan were found in Colorado. Indiana, 
Michigan, Maryland. Minnesota, and Wyoming. In those States 
patriotic work of women was arranged for by State organizations 
originating in the action of the governor, legislature. State council 



14 REPOKT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

or group of patriotic women before the Woman's Committee was 
appointed. The machinery so established, in each instance, merged 
with the Woman's Committee and became the State Division. 

Local organisations. — The State Divisions have extended the or- 
ganization throughout the State by organizing local units corre- 
sponding to political divisions. In all States, with few exceptions, 
counties have been organized as the primary unit ; townships, cities, 
towns, wards, and precincts have been adopted as subdivisions or 
local units. In Alaska, judiciary divisions are organized in lieu of 
county. In the larger cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chi- 
cago, Providence, St. Louis, San Francisco, ward and precinct units 
have been formed in order that the greatest number of women may 
be reached and interested in war work. In some cities the organi- 
zation has extended to city blocks. 

Owing to the failure of some States to report the extent of organi- 
zation until it is completed, the number of units organized can not 
be definitely stated. Fourteen States have reported committees in 
every county. These States are as follows: Arizona, Arkansas, 
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, 
Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, and Wyoming. 
Corresponding to the county unit, every parish in Louisiana is organ- 
ized. Twenty-eight States have reported counties organized in part. 
Of these, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, 
New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, 
Washington, and Wisconsin have at least 90 per cent of the counties 
organized. Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, and Rhode 
Island have found that town instead of county organization is more 
practical. Maine has not reported the number of units organized 
but there is evidence that work is being accomplished. The total 
number of city, town, ward, and precinct units reported is 8,895; 
total number of county units, 2,372 ; total of county, town, city, ward, 
and precinct, 11,267. 

Coordination of womerfs organizations. — As before described, the 
presidents of State-wide organizations form the State Committee 
of the State Divisions of the Woman's Committee. Such organiza- 
tions are affiliated with the State Division in which they are working 
and report to the executive committee of the division the work ac- 
complished within the State. In like manner local associations coop- 
erate with local units and are a part of the machinery by which the 
war work is accomplished. The organization affected by the Wom- 
an's Committee is the medium of direct communication between the 
Government and the existing organized clubs. In communities 
where clubs do not exist, the Woman's Committee becomes the only 
organization for women doing war work. 

Relation to State Council.— The relation of the State Division of 
the Woman's Committee to the State Council of Defense is not the 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. 15 

same in all of the States. In the following 29 States and the Dis- 
trict of Columbia the chairman of the State Division has been 
appointed a member of the State Council : Alabama, Arizona, 
Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, 
Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ne- 
braska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washing- 
ton, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In some instances other officers of 
the Woman's Committee are also included in the State Council. In 
Vermont and Nevada members of the Woman's Committee other 
than the chairman are members of the State Council. 

The State Division is an auxiliary of the State Council in 
Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, 
Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont. In Arizona, California, Con- 
necticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North 
Dakota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, 
Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming the Woman's Com- 
mittee is a part of the State Council of Defense. In Colorado the 
Woman's Committee is equal in rank with the Governor's War Coun- 
cil, which is the State Council of that State and works in complete 
harmony with it. New Mexico and Mississippi report that joint con- 
ferences are held between the State Council and the Woman's Com- 
mittee, and in New Jersey the chairman is ex officio member of the 
State Council. 

The laws of Louisiana prevent women from becoming members of 
a State board; therefore the State Council has employed the chairman 
of the Woman's Committee as director of woman's work. She may 
be present at all meetings of the State Council. Members of the 
Woman's Committee attend the State Council meetings in Iowa, but 
there is no official connection between the two organizations. 

Finance. — Expenses of the State divisions of the Woman's Com- 
mittee have been met in various ways. The State chairmen of Ari- 
zona, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming report that all 
expenses have been met by the financial support given by the State. 
At present funds for the work are supplied by the State in Con- 
necticut, Colorado, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, 
South Carolina, Florida, Washington, Maryland, and Indiana, 
but in the beginning each Division was financed through the efforts 
of the State Committee. The greater portion of the expenses have 
been borne by the State in Massachusetts, but voluntary contribu- 
tions have been made for minor expenses of the Division. Provisions 
have been made by the State for partial expenses in Illinois, Iowa, 
Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Jersey, and New 
York. Definite appropriations ranging from $500 to $7,000 have 



16 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

been made in Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mis- 
souri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina. 
Monthly appropriations have been made in Missouri, and in Vir- 
ginia until January 1, 1918. Clerical help and headquarters have 
been furnished in Tennessee, Wyoming, and Minnesota. In Ala- 
bama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, 
Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Okla- 
homa. Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Texas, Vermont, 
Porto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska the work has been financed by pri- 
vate contributions made by the chairmen and members of the State 
Divisions, by individuals registering for service, and by fees from 
affiliated organizations. In Louisiana $100 per month is appro- 
priated from State funds for the salary of the chairman of the 
Woman's Committee, but this amount is applied by her to the gen- 
eral committee work. 

DEPARTMENT II.— REGISTRATION . 

Objects. — The Registration Department was created to ascertain 
definite information as to the woman power of America. Before 
adopting a registration card the committee in charge of the work 
conferred with a representative of the United States Census Bureau 
concerning the form of card to be used. 

Form of registration cards. — The cards bear definite information 
as to training, capacity, and willingness of service, either paid or 
volunteer, full or part time. A desire for training in any specific 
branch of work is recorded. Furthermore, the Registration Depart- 
ment has found that the work has educational implications. To 
carry on the work successfully, it is necessary to first advertise the 
purpose of registration and the need of responding. Registrars must 
be trained to take the census, and opportunities for services and 
training should be known in advance. This means a general survey 
of local and State labor conditions. 

In initiating the work the Woman's Committee had printed 500,000 
registration cards and 15,000 leaflets of instruction, which were dis- 
tributed among the State Divisions on the proportional basis of popu- 
lation. 

Registration m the States. — Registration, which is entirely volun- 
tary, has been undertaken by 27 States. Official sanction, however, 
was given the work by the governor's proclamation of a day for reg- 
istration in the following States : Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, 
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Other States un- 
dertaking the work are Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, In- 
diana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South 
Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. In no instance has registration 
been limited to a day. In New York and Rhode Island women were 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 17 

included in the compulsory military census and the Department in 
these divisions have made use of the census records. 

In Louisiana the date was set by an act of the legislature and regis- 
tration was proclaimed compulsory, but no penalty was attached for 
failure to comply with the law. Without returning a summary, the 
chairman of the registration committee states that not less than 
270,000 women have registered for service. In general, two methods 
have been employed in carrying out the work : House-to-house canvass 
and registration booths in established places. Details of registration 
in a few of the States undertaking the work will well illustrate the 
plans that have been adopted and successfully carried out. 

Registration in progress — In Illinois actual registration was pre- 
ceded by intensive preparation. Ten thousand registrars were trained 
in special schools; a manual was published for their use. The pur- 
pose of registration was widely advertised through the public press, 
by posters and fliers. A list of all institutions and industrial plants 
offering opportunities for training for service were listed as a 
directory for registrants who might desire to receive training in any 
particular subject. In actual operation is has been found advisable 
to form classes for special training. A subcommittee on courses 
of instruction has made arrangements for conducting courses in home 
economics, home nursing, Red Cross work, occupations for the handi- 
capped, dramatics, story-telling, wireless, motor driving, aviation, 
engineering, and other courses in free public schools. 

Employment bureaus. — It was also found advisable in Illinois to 
know the local labor market in order to direct registrants to places 
where volunteer or paid employment might be obtained. Again, 
another division was needed and employment bureaus have been 
opened. During the month of March, 297 names were recorded on 
application lists and 118 applicants were placed in employment. 

Another State to open employment bureaus has been Missouri. 
The plan is to have one in every county seat or town of over 5,000 
inhabitants. The civil-service commission of the State appealed to 
the Registration Department for 250 stenographers. From the 
registration cards was obtained a list of 250 women, trained in this 
work; they were notified of the commissioner's need and in a few 
days that number reported for the Civil-Service examination. 

The work in Pennsylvania also demonstrated the need of employ- 
ment bureaus. In Philadelphia 1,481 registrants Live been referred 
to occupations. In Altoona in one month 73 women were placed in 
paid employment representing 19 different occupations. Two hun- 
dred and eighty-six women are in training classes for work as fol- 
lows: Wireless, stenography, telegraphy, telephone operating, motor 
mechanics, farm-tractor operating, agriculture, war cooking, teaching 
the blind, Red Cross work, nursing, and drafting. 
58070—18 3 



18 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Mis- 
souri have reported special training for registrars. Indiana and 
Michigan have just begun registration, but the preparation for the 
work has been going on for several months. In New Haven, Conn., 
registration was taken as an experiment. The work was financed 
by the chamber of commerce and the New Haven County Employers' 
Association. Valuable assistance was given the committee by Yale 
University, the public-school board, business houses, and newspapers. 

General application of registration- J ln Idaho registration was 
taken in the face of many obstacles such as inclement weather, bad 
roads, etc. Registrars went many miles on skis to reach women in 
mountainous districts. In Pocatella a Greek merchant closed his 
shop and assisted the women in registering Greek women. Women 
in the more isolated regions in this State volunteered to do knitting, 
or to care for groups of children in order to release other women for 
war work. 

Courses of instruction have been arranged in several States to 
meet the demand of women desiring special training. The States 
reporting the work are Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, 
Wisconsin, and South Dakota. The committees undertaking this 
work are subdivisions of the Department of Education. 

There is not a State in which the work has been conducted that 
registration cards have not supplied volunteers for social and Red 
Cross work, and candidates for civil-service examinations. In Den- 
ver, Colo., Red Cross workers were increased 300 per cent by this 
means. Registration cards are kept at local headquarters for imme- 
diate use; summary cards are sent to the chairman of the State 
division and to National Headquarters as the work proceeds. Final 
returns have not been made as registration is continuing in every 
State. Partial returns have been made as follows : 

Registration as reported to May 1, 1918. 





Chair- 
man ap- 
pointed. 


Registration begun. 


Number of women. 


Registrants. 


States. 


Date set. 


Date set 
by gov- 
ernor. 


No defi- 
nite 

date set. 


In the 

State. 


Regis- 
tered to 
date. 


Trained 
in more 
than one 
occupa- 
tion. 


Entered 
in train- 
ing 
classes. 




(') 


Aug. 15 


C 1 ) 




621,365 
52,478 
440,037 
768,455 
249, 174 
388,254 
68,034 


10,000 














Arkansas 


( i ) 


Feb. 17 


C 1 ) 




30,000 






California 














< l ) 








Connecticut 


Nov. 17 




18,000 2 

















J Not less than 270,000. 



2 New Haven only. 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 19 
Registration as reported to May 1, 1918 — Continued. 





Chair- 
man ap- 
pointed. 


Registration begun. 


Number of women. 


Registrants. 


States. 


Date set. 


Date set 
by gov- 
ernor. 


No defi- 
nite 
date set. 


In the 
State. 


Regis- 
tered to 
date. 


Trained 
in more 
than one 
occupa- 
tion. 


Entered 

in train- 
ing 
classes. 












132,045 

218,572 

761,997 

83,986 

1,851,103 
900, 749 
715,927 
523,240 
699, 897 
486.871 
258,064 
439, 799 

1,232,125 
920, 224 
020, 687 
514,264 

1,067,613 
95,958 
360,500 
20, 609 
154,242 
862,304 
89, 142 

3,216,410 
641,666 
149,924 

1,626,657 
441,600 
198,114 

2,478,990 
192, 545 
434,376 
162, 803 
662, 013 

1,096,864 
104,363 
121,901 
626, 873 
326,040 
344,943 
730, 696 
34, 082 










0) 


Sept. 19, 1917 






7,384 
















Dec. 3,1917 
Nov. 5,1916 
Apr. 19,1918 


(') 




18,386 
615,805 


2, 603 


168 








620 


























Sept. 5,1917 
Nor. 18,1917 
Oct. 17,1917 


(M 




54,3 1' 
8,625 


17,058 

574 




Kent tick v 


(') 


C 1 ) 




















































(i) Anr. 27.1918 


(') 








(') 
(') 
0) 
(>) 
0) 




(') 


no" 




July 14,1917 

Sept. 28, 1917 


0) 


12,103 5,867 
100,135 1 
















Sept. 12,1917 


0) 




80,379 






















(') 












Juiy 13,1917 




















0) 


Oct. 20,1917 






4,034 


1,163 13 






(0 




Ohio 












(') 
(') 
0) 
(') 
M 

m 






( ] ) 


900 ! 




Sept. 15, 1917 
Nov. 1,1917 


0) 


5,482 
114,483 










8, 422 286 












Aug. 21,1917 
Jan. 20,1918 
Oct. 13,1917 






3,916 


















(') 




60,977 


20, 199 


702 








Utah 1 (i) 


Nov. 10,1917 












Vermont | (>) 

Virginia < (i) 






























West Virginia (•) 

Wisconsin | (i) 


















July 17,1917 | (0 








United States 










35 


23 


14 


4 




1,172,628 


56,113 1.750 









i Not less than 270,000. 

The chairman of the Department of Registration has advised the 
chairman of the Registration Departments and the chairmen of the 
State Divisions in which the Avork has not been undertaken to defer 
the work until more details have been compiled and analyzed, in 
order that the experience gained in the States where the work has 
been done may be made available for use. 

DEPARTMENT III — FOOD PRODUCTION AND HOME ECONOMICS. 

Cooperation with Department of Agriculture and Food Administra- 
tion directors. — The Food Production and Home Economics Depart- 
ment was created as an avenue of communication between the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture and the housekeepers of America. The demon- 
strators in extension work of the agricultural colleges are members 



20 KEPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

of this committee, and in many instances the State leader is the 
chairman. The work is also closely allied with the Department 
of Food Administration of the State Division and locally with 
that of the home economics director appointed by the United States 
Food Administration in each State. The chairman of the Food Pro- 
duction and Home Economics Department is also chairman of the 
Food Administration Department and home economics director for 
the United States Food Administration in Connecticut, Florida, 
Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, 
Virginia, and Wisconsin. In some instances the chairman of this 
department is also chairman of the Food Administration Department, 
namely, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Montana. In these 
instances the work of the two departments is united in the one. In 
other cases the chairman of this department is the home economics 
State director of the Food Administration, but not chairman of the 
Food Administration Department. These combinations give evidence 
of the close cooperation of the three groups organized in the interests 
of production and conservation of food. It is also apparent that 
one specific line of work may be undertaken by the Food Production 
and Home Economics Department in one State and in a neighboring 
State the same work will be accomplished by the Food Administration 
Department. This is in no way a duplication of work. 

Liberty gardens, 1917. — One very general activity of the Food Pro- 
duction and Home Economics Department has been to increase the 
production of food by stimulating interest in school ground, back 
yard, and vacant lot gardening. During the summer of 1917, 34 State 
division chairmen of the Food Production and Home Economics 
Department report that this work has been accomplished to a remark- 
able degree. Statistical data as to acreage and value of products are 
not available, for much that has been done has never been reported. 
Representative facts from a few States, however, will convey an 
impression of the prevailing conditions throughout the country. 

State activities.— -From Maryland came the report that 20,000 back 
yards were converted into gardens ; that colored women took up the 
brick paving in their small plots and made gardens. In North 
Carolina 56,000 winter gardens were planted and several varieties of 
vegetables were tried out as possible winter products. Near Colorado 
Springs a woman prepared 28 acres of land for cultivation, and per- 
mitted any woman to take as much ground space as she wished for a 
garden. One-third of the product was sold and the returns were 
given to charity. A member of a girls' canning club in Georgia 
cleared $123.95 from sales of produce raised on one-tenth of an 
acre of ground. Innumerable examples such as these could be given 
from every State in the Union. 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 2 1 

Plans for work in agriculture, 1918. — Special emphasis was placed 
upon garden work at the conference held in Washington. February. 
1918, and attended by the chairmen or representatives of the depart- 
ments in 31 States. Further, a circular letter inclosing instruc- 
tion from the Department of Agriculture on spring planting, and 
raising of live stock, directed the attention of the department to the 
importance of the work. In addition to stressing the importance of 
women making small gardens the Woman's Land Army plan has 
been indorsed by the Department of Food Production and Home 
Economics in order to provide women farm laborers according to a 
unit plan. Eeports from New York and Pennsylvania state that 
this division of the work is one of the most active at present. 
Women have been urged to release men experienced in farming but 
at present engaged in clerical work. Surveys and conferences have 
been conducted in Delaware, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, 
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana to ascertain the demand for 
woman labor on farms or the possibilities for their employment 
during the planting and harvest season. Definite standards as to 
hours of labor and conditions surrounding their employment have 
been adopted by this department and that of Women in Industry. 

The Virginia division of the Woman's Committee has urged the 
colleges to offer special courses of instruction in horticulture, animal 
husbandry, poultry raising, bee culture, and household economics. 
All affiliated organizations were asked to emphasize the need of these 
courses and encourage members to take up the work. 

Demonstrations in preserving food. — Increasing the production 
of food is not enough. Methods of making the products available 
for consumption is a problem to follow. For a number of years the 
Department of Agriculture had been sending home demonstration 
agents into rural communities to teach housekeepers and young girls 
how to preserve fruit and vegetables. The Food Production and 
Home Economics Department gives its heartiest support to the fur- 
therance of this work, which was extended to include urban communi- 
ties. Community kitchins for canning demonstrations were started 
in hundreds of towns and cities. Expert demonstrators operating for 
this department were employed on fair grounds and in factories. 
Training schools lasting for a week or longer for teachers of canning 
and dehydrating were conducted in many States. Girls' junior 
armies for preserving perishable food were organized in some com- 
munities. It was estimated that in 33 States the increase in pre- 
served food during the summer of 1917 amounted to 300 per cent 
above the quantity preserved the previous year. 

Training school for demonstrators. — A food conservation normal 
school was opened in St. Louis, Mo.. May 14. 1917. A course of 



22 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

daily lectures and demonstrations covering a period of three weeks 
were given to audiences ranging from 175 to 300 people. From 
this course were recruited 103 volunteer teachers who had used this 
opportunity to review previous training in home economics. Fifty- 
nine ward schools were opened with this staff of volunteer teachers. 
The aggregate attendance in these schools was over 5,000. Visiting 
housekeepers were organized and women were taught methods of 
preserving and canning in their homes. A community cannery was 
opened and demonstrations were conducted before an audience aver- 
aging 110 people. Twelve thousand jars of vegetables and fruit 
were filled under the direction of a trained expert from the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. 

Cannim,g in homes. — In Lancaster County, Pa., 300 women filled 
10,001 jars with fruit and vegetables for the soldiers. From Cali- 
fornia, Maryland, Illinois, Idaho, New York, Utah, and Connecticut 
came the report that an effort was made to reach the homes with 
methods of preserving. 

Canning clubs. — There were approximately 12,000 women and girls 
enrolled in the canning clubs of North Carolina. In almost every 
county of the State the County Commissioners or Chambers of Com- 
merce advanced money for the purchase of containers. In this way 
2,500,000 tin cans and 1,775,000 glass jars were ordered. The girls 
were to liquidate the debt when their produce had been sold. From 
1 to 7 canneries were organized in the towns of the 60 organized 
counties. Each one was supervised by a canning-club girl, who 
received a salary and was assisted by women in the town. Nine fac- 
tories employed a canning-club-trained girl to teach canning and 
preserving to women employees. 

Community canning. — Community canneries or kitchens were re- 
ported by chairmen of Food Production and Home Economics De- 
partments in 19 States — Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, 
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, 
Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylva- 
nia. South Carolina, Utah, and the District of Columbia. 

The women of Montgomery County, Pa., borrowed $1,100 and 
opened five canning centers. As a result, 20,000 jars were filled with 
fruit and vegetables. One thousand containers were sent to the 
soldiers. At the end of the season the debt was liquidated, and the 
club has its equipment and $300 toward this year's work. 

The canning season passed, but the kitchen continued in many 
instances as centers for the demonstrations of war breads and sub- 
stitutes for wheat, meats, fats, and sugar. The women of Wilming- 
ton, Del., equipped a movable kitchen and furnished volunteer motor 
service to transport it in order that demonstrations might be given 
before groups of women in schools, churches, and clubrooms. 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 23 

Community kitchens. — Another type of community has grown up 
in St. Louis, Mo. The increase in the cost of living and the number 
of women with dependent families in industry have created a prob- 
lem which necessitated new measures of relief. Public health must 
be maintained in time of war ; children must be properly fed. Visit- 
ing housekeepers who had been employed in the city found that it 
was almost impossible to provide a balanced diet for a family of 
six on the usual allowance, $1 per day. As well, food and fuel 
must be conserved at the present time. To meet this complicated 
situation of conservation and physical needs, the Women's Central 
Committee on Food Conservation has planned a chain of five com- 
munity kitchens located in congested districts or the neighborhood 
of factories. Food is furnished three times a day on the " cash and 
carry " plan at sufficient cost to cover the operation of the experi- 
ment. The community kitchen is self-supporting in every instance 
and in no way an institution dispensing charity. The first experi- 
mental kitchen is in the neighborhood of 10 large factories employ- 
ing women, four day nurseries, and the Farmers' Market, where sup- 
plies are easily obtained. The plans for five kitchens are so com- 
plete as to give reasonable assurance that the food situation among 
the industrial class can be solved unless it becomes far more acute 
with regard to cost and supply. The central form of cooking food 
is an economy in food, fuel, and women's power. 

Community markets. — Concomitant with the increased produc- 
tion of food and the community canning clubs came another project, 
local markets. During the summer of 1917 these were often estab- 
lished in connection with the cannery or kitchen. In some instances 
a few blocks in the vicinity were shut off from traffic for market pur- 
poses. Farmers brought in fresh produce each day and found a ready 
market. In Louisville and several small towns of Kentucky sidewalk 
markets were conducted. The women of St. Louis. Mo., followed up 
their work of securing a curb and market bill by opening four public 
markets and six milk stations on the " cash-and-carry " plan. The 
women in Tulsa, Okla., report that the community market has re- 
opened this year on a larger scale and on a permanent year-round 
basis. 

Curb markets. — The reports from Delaware, Indiana. Kentucky. 
Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri. New Jersey. New Mexico. 
New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin state that the 
markets established in these respective States last summer were suc- 
cessful. Produce was furnished at prices which permitted many 
families to preserve food which would have been prohibitive at usual 
market prices. At the same time the producers invariably receive 
better prices than they would have had they disposed of I heir produce 
in the usual wav. 



24 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

The market operated by local representatives of the Woman's Com- 
mittee salvaged at the docks in New York City $3,122.18 worth of 
fruit and vegetables. This food would have been wasted under con- 
ditions which prevailed before the markets were opened. 

A local market was opened at Brainerd, Minn., to dispose of vege- 
tables which in former years would have been " plowed under." 
Several State departments have stated that they are planning to 
reopen this work another year on more extensive plans. 

In Dallas County, Tex., a joint garden and marketing plan has 
been worked out to make the county self-supporting and eliminate 
the necessity for transportation of food. 

DEPARTMENT IV — POOD ADMINISTRATION. 

Cooperation ivith the United States Food Administration pledge- 
campaign. — The department of Food Administration was designed to 
promote the activities proposed for women by the United States 
Food Administration. This plan has worked successfully. In Ala- 
bama, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North 
Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Washington the chairman 
of the Food Administration Department is also Home Ecoonmics 
director for the Food Administration. The chairman of this de- 
partment in the State division works with the State Food Admin- 
istrator. She has organized the county and town food committees 
for immediate execution of new food regulations and pledge cam- 
paigns when they are started. In many localities home demonstra- 
tors have worked under the direction of the Food Administration 
department instead of the Food Production and Home Economics 
department. This has been true most often when conservation and 
substitution demonstrations were given. A report comes from every 
State in the Union, Alaska, and the District of Columbia that the 
department in each division has assisted in the food pledge drives. 
The work of conservation of food has been started in Porto Rico 
and Hawaii. 

At the close of the Food Administration conservation pledge drive 
in Florida the State Food Administrator attributed the success of the 
campaign to the " untiring and unselfish eiforts of the women of the 
local units." It is probable that this was not an unusual experience 
for a State Administrator. 

Conservation plans.— The pledge campaign was followed by dis- 
tribution of recipes which would assist in keeping the conservation 
pledge. Balanced menus were planned by the department in various 
States and published in local papers as another means of follow-up 
work. Posters were displayed in public places to remind house- 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. 25 

keepers that the Government needed them to assist in the elimination 
of waste that our Army and the allies might be fed. 

Closely allied to the work of the demonstrators have been the food 
exhibits to teach substitutes for wheat, meat, fats, oils, and sugars. 

In California and Connecticut exhibits have been held in prac- 
tically every county. Seven were conducted at one time in Connecti- 
cut; these were moved from town to town. A traveling exhibit was 
used by a colored demonstrator who was endeavoring to educate her 
people in Sussex County, Del., in conservation methods. 

Oomnmnity activities. — Interesting demonstrations have been held 
in centers having a population with a large foreign element. Such 
have, been reported from Connecticut, California, Delaware, and Min- 
nesota. In Los Angeles County a Japanese demonstrator taught 
Americans how to make Japanese dishes and use substitutes for but- 
ter, sugar, and wheat. Recipes for rice cakes and bread were very 
successfully demonstrated. Another demonstrator was a Russian 
who made rye bread after an "old country" recipe. In an Italian 
quarter an Italian demonstrated to his countrymen substitutes for 
macaroni. He made a soup of vegetable oil for six-sevenths of a 
cent per plate. Much needed lessons in conservation were given in 
live negro centers, and in turn, the negro women demonstrated their 
corn meal recipes before white women who were unskilled in the use 
of that wheat substitute. Another contribution of a Californian was 
the experiment conducted by a woman in Amador County. She has 
discovered a process by which the bitter flavor and dark color may be 
removed from flour made of. the acorn and suggests it as another 
wheat substitute. 

Another wheat substitute was demonstrated by a Colorado woman 
at the National Western Stock Show. In her booth she served pinto 
beans in loaves, muffins, and biscuits, and distributed the recipes by 
which they were made, among the women from farming districts. 

Liberty cookbooks have been prepared by this department in Cali- 
fornia. Michigan, Maryland, and Minnesota. The women of Dela- 
ware carefully prepared leaflets on food which were printed by the 
merchants of Wilmington. In this way tested recipes were distri- 
buted among the customers of the merchants. 

Floorer lunch. — Notable work is recorded by the women of St. 
Louis, Mo. A buyers' school, conducted by authorities in various 
lines of foodstuffs, has taught the housekeepers how to market and 
choose food wisely. A Hoover lunch room and store familiarized 
the public with substitute foods and how to prepare a balanced 
meal. 

Food conservation in public eating places. — In addition to work- 
ing among housekeepers, this department attempted in many States 

58070—18 4 



26 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

to make effective the conservation plan among managers of hotels 
and restaurants. Conferences which were held have been reported 
by county and State chairmen of the Food Administration Depart- 
ment. Junior leagues were organized in some States, and children 
were pledged as individuals to help save food. 

DEPARTMENT V. WOMEN IN INDUSTRY. 

Cooperation with the advisory commission. — The department of 
Women in Industry has cooperated with the committee on Women 
in Industry of the advisory commission on labor of the Council of 
National Defense. 

Purposes. — It has been the general purpose of the department to 
see that standards for women in employment are maintained, taking 
as their guide the standards adopted by the Department of Ordnance 
and as indorsed as the official standards of the Woman's Committee. 
The State departments of Women in Industry have on occasions 
accomplished this purpose by investigating the conditions surround- 
ing employment and publishing a report of what was found to be 
true. Other investigations have been made to ascertain to what 
extent women are needed to replace men entering military service, 
with the aim to assist in making the adjustments necessary to meet 
industrial emergencies that arise. 

In so far as it has been possible, the practice has been to place in 
this department women who are acquainted with industrial condi- 
tions and have had experience among industrial w T orkers. Economic 
interests are so varied throughout the States that the problem of 
women in industry is not equally pressing in all States. Thirty-seven 
State chairmen, however, have reported that this department has been 
organized in their respective divisions. A conference of the chair- 
men of the departments was recently held in Washington. At that 
time 14 States and the District of Columbia were represented. 

Survey of industrial conditions. — Most effective work has been re- 
ported by the committees in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illi- 
nois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky. Maryland, Massachusetts. Michi- 
gan, Minnesota, Ohio. Pennsylvania, New York, Ehode Island. Vir- 
ginia, and Wyoming. Surveys of industrial conditions have been 
conducted in these States and constructive recommendations have 
been made to remedy conditions which are detrimental to the health 
and efficiency of the women employed. The reports from New York, 
California, Indiana, and Iowa state that as yet women are not to any 
marked degree filling men's positions made vacant by the draft. 

An intensive study was made in Connecticut and a detailed report 
reveals that the substitution of women for men in industry and busi- 
ness has not as yet been affected to an appreciable extent. On the 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 27 

other hand, a study of the draft lists in Wisconsin reveals that the 
draft has depleted industrial labor and recommends that women begin 
trsflining to meet the further depletion by the next draft. 

Activities of subcommittee*. — In Illinois this department has been 
combined with the Department of Child Welfare, and notable work 
has been accomplished. Subcommittees have been organized for 
special divisions of the work. The National Woman's Trade-Union 
League, the Industrial Department of the Young Woman's Christian 
Association. Chicago School of Civics and Philanthrophy, and the 
State factory inspector have cooperated with the Department in 
the investigations of needlework trades and employment of women 
on war contracts. The subcommittee on colored women reported 
bad housing conditions and the need of day nurseries in colored dis- 
tricts. Special training for colored women and part-time employ- 
ment for mothers of young children were recommended. The sub- 
committee on foreign-born women has been successful in establish- 
ing classes for teaching English to non-English-speaking women 
employed in factories. Many factories have given 15 minutes extra 
time for these classes at noontime. Industrial standards are pub- 
lished in the foreign press for the protection of foreign women in 
industry. 

Supplying 'industrial workers. — The labor department permitted 
this committee in Maryland, among other States, to have a list of 
the plants working on Government contracts. Accordingly a survey 
was made covering IT industries in 52 factories. A straw-hat in- 
dustry which had had a dull season had a list of girls out of em- 
ployment. This list was placed at the disposal of a clothing manu- 
facturer at the suggestion of the Department's agent, and the workers 
were temporarily transferred from one industry to the other. The 
committee further assisted in recruiting women for canneries during 
the tomato season. The need of workers was extensively advertised. 
and women representing every economic group were employed in 
canning. When the canneries refused to comply with the request of 
the Representative of the Department to see the pay rolls, because of 
the rumor of low wages paid, all assistance was withdrawn. Owners 
of textile mills, factories working on tents and Army clothing, next 
applied for assistance in finding workers. The committee made a 
systematic investigation before directing women to (be industries to 
insure satisfactory conditions for the employees. In the lent fac- 
tories the work was considered too heavy for women, and cooperation 
of the Department was withheld. When power machines were sup- 
plied operators were recruited. This Department is now making a 
study with special reference to the replacement of men in industries 
by women and to the readjustment needed for women to meet the 
industrial conditions brought about by (be war. 



28 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Supplying clerical workers. — Representatives of the Department of 
Women in Industry in New York State visited industries in nine 
cities. It was found that very little abnormality in employment 
existed. In experimental cases only are women doing men's work, 
though it is expected that after the next draft an extension of 
women's work will be necessary. The investigation revealed that 
home work is being done on officers' uniforms. This involves much 
loss of time in carrying the work to and from the various homes for 
piecework to the shops where the work is completed. Women ste- 
nographers, filing clerks, and general office workers have been re- 
cruited for the Gun Division of the Ordnance Department by pub- 
lishing the requests for applicants in all the leading county news- 
papers of the State. 

Committee on standards. — The Women in Industry Department in 
Delaware has four subcommittees: (1) Standards, (2) on general 
living conditions for women workers. (3) on foreign-born women in 
industry, (4) on colored women in industry. The Committee on 
Standards has inspected Bancroft Mills and the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road Co. shops. In the mills women are employed on machines 
formerly operated by men and in the bleachery pits where boys have 
hitherto been employed. No risks were apparent in the operation 
of the machines, but excessive dampness was noted in the bleachery 
pits. The committee recommended that women be given a change 
of work to avoid continuous work in the dampness. At the railroad 
shops women were grinding tools, operating drill machines, and 
giving out materials from the storerooms. The articles handled did 
not exceed in weight the 25-pound standard. 

Survey of Government contract-labor condition. — The women of 
this Department in Kentucky investigated conditions surrounding 
14,000 women sewing on Army shirts. The girls working on Gov- 
ernment contracts have shorter hours than those employed in other 
interests. Two strikes have been settled in the State : in one instance 
the girls gained better hours and in the other better pay. A manu- 
facturer who was trying to increase the working day by half an hour 
in order to increase his output was prevailed upon to shorten the day 
by half an hour. In the end he found he had obtained his desired 
increase in production. 

The Department of Women in Industry in Ohio is made up of 
trained investigators, labor representatives, and officers of the Con- 
sumers' League. A survey of the employment of girls and women in 
railroad freight yards and glass factories was made in Toledo and 
Cincinnati. In Cincinnati it was found that 500 children were em- 
ployed illegally and that the number of minors entering industry 
has doubled in three years. The Department is raising scholarship 
funds to keep them in school. Better wages and better housing were 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 29 

recommended. An investigation in Cleveland shows that women 
are receiving less pay than men in the hardware trades. Efforts are 
being made to prevent the establishing of undesirable day nurseries 
in connection with the factories. 

Protective measures— -There are five subcommittees on Women in 
Industry in Rhode Island. The Committee on Hetlth represents 17 
nurses in manufacturing plants. The aim of this group is to estab- 
lish a general clinic connected with the hospital for the study of 
occupational diseases. The Committee on Housing has made a canvas 
from house to house to find rooms for women employed in ammuni- 
tion plants. The Commitee on Replacement of Men by Women finds 
that women are filling men's places in metal work but in no other 
industries. The Committee on Labor Standards lias been working for 
the passage of the following laws: (1) Enforcement of the abolition 
of the common drinking cup and common towel in factories and 
stores, etc.: (2) prohibition of the use of the suction shuttle in mills; 
(3) yearly examination for working children; (4) abolition of night 
work for women. Another subcommittee, on insurance, is trying to 
secure extra insurance for women employed in hazardous munition 
plants. 

Difficulties. — One difficulty which has been met by the field workers 
has been the fear on the part of men that there is a desire to place 
women in men's positions. It has been necessary to work slowly and 
to convince the men that the purpose of the Department is to help in 
the adjustment of labor under unusual conditions caused by the 
speeding up of industries to fill war contracts, and the withdrawal 
of men by the draft. 

DEPARTMENT VI. — CHILD WELFARE. 

Cooperation with the Children's Bureau and the general medical 
board of Council of National Defense. — The Child- Welfare Depart- 
ment has cooperated with the medical section of the general medical 
board of the Council of National Defense and the Children's Bureau 
of the Department of Labor in promoting the work for the protec- 
tion of children. Conditions caused by the war have emphasized the 
need of redoubled efforts in the interest of child welfare. The atten- 
tion of this Department was first directed to the fact that with the 
prosecution of the war had come an increased demand for labor and 
a rise in wages. Both factors contribute to an increase in the num- 
ber of children in employment. 

Enforcement of Federal child-labor laws. — On September 1. L917, 
the Federal child-labor law went into effect. Prior to this more 
stringent compulsory school-attendance laws had been enacted in 
some States, while in others the laws were more lax. It was in the 



30 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

interest of the enforcement of State and Federal laws which related 
to the protection of children and compulsory school attendance that 
the child-welfare department began its work. An attempt was made 
to ascertain the need of scholarships for children who had met the 
compulsory attendance requirements, but were unable to attend 
school any longer because of economic conditions in the home. The 
purpose of requesting this information was to interest the State divi- 
sions through the State chairman and the Child Welfare Department 
if there were one in the State, in securing scholarships where such 
were needed. The Departments in several States have reported that 
the object is being attained, and local committees are assisting boys 
and girls to remain in school instead of going to work. Thirty-one 
States, however, have reported that efforts are being made to carry 
out the provisions of the law for enforced attendance. This reply 
has been made by the following States: Arkansas, Alabama, Cali- 
fornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Min- 
nesota, Missouri, Montana, Michigan, New Jersey, New Hampshire, 
New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ten- 
nessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

Permanent measures for child welfare. — The work of this depart- 
ment is not alone a war-time measure, and is so recognized in most 
of the States. It is the aim of the Department to create a demand 
for a better standard which will be permanently maintained. The 
need of medical inspection and public-health nurses in every school 
have been emphasized in many States. Efforts to attain this end 
have been made in Arkansas, Connecticut, Ohio, and Virginia. It 
has been found in some States that mothers of young children are 
employed in factories or other places where their labor is required. 
To meet this condition in different localities, a number of day nur- 
series have been established by the committees working in Cali- 
fornia, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and Illinois. Varied 
plans have been worked out as individual States have seen the neces- 
sity for specific lines of work and have known of effective means of 
attack. 

Children's year. — Aside from these issues the major emphasis of 
this Department is being placed on what is known as the work of 
Children's Year, extending from April 6, 1918, to April 6, 1919. A 
comprehensive program to reduce infant mortality and insure the 
best possible development of young children has been launched by 
the Child Welfare Department and the Children's Bureau. Stated 
in numbers, the aim is to save 100,000 children. The annual death 
rate in the United States of children under 5 years of age is 300,000. 
It has been estimated that 50 per cent of these deaths are preventable. 
The Department has, therefore, asked the Child Welfare Department 



EEPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 31 

in each State division to conduct a campaign to save a definite num- 
ber of children: the number is determined on the proportional basis 
of population. The program for the work includes prenatal, infant, 
and preschool-age care of children. 

Aims. — The chairman of the Department in each Stale division is 
cooperating with the existing agencies which are interested in public 
health, infant care, and child welfare. An effort is being made to 
secure 100 per cent registration of the births of children in every 
community and a record of the weighing and measuring tests of 
every child under school age. The plan is to conduct the work of 
testing and measuring in every State between the dates April • '> and 
June 6. A special card has been issued by the Children's Bureau on 
which is recorded the measurements of the child. Each card bears 
the information of the measurements of a normal child for com- 
parative purposes. When a child's record varies far from the normal, 
special attention is given to correct his physical development. This 
work is already well begun in 36 States and the District of Columbia. 
The program is worked out according to local conditions and facili- 
ties for conducting the work. 

Type plan. — A typical plan may be cited as the work has been 
developed in Indiana. All children of pre-school age are to be regis- 
tered before April 6. Improvised clinics are to be established in 
every schoolhouse in the State. A local physician is to be in charge, 
und a public-health nurse, if one is employed in the community, or 
some other experienced person is to assist him in the work. Mothers 
are invited to bring their children to be measured and tested by a 
physician and nurse in charge. On April 6 the whole day was given 
over to this work. The testing is to be carefully followed up by 
special instructions on infant care and feeding. A lecture on the 
care of babies is to be given to the mothers and special attention to 
all children failing to meet the normal physical standard. Mothers 
who are unable to bring their children to the clinic will he visited 
and the babies will be measured in their homes. Follow-up work 
is being planned to meet local needs. Thousands of copies of bulle- 
tins published by the Children's Bureau with reference to the care of 
children have been distributed. Emphasis has been placed upon the 
need of pure milk. 

Prior to the inauguration of the Children's Year plan many States 
had been doing unusual work. In this connection the work of the 
Child Welfare Department in Connecticut. Delaware. Illinois. Mis- 
souri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Rhode Island should he mentioned. In 
Delaware the Department had subcommittees working on the follow- 
ing provisions: (1) Infant care: to include prenatal instructions to 
mothers: regulation of midwifery: milk stations and feeding instruc 
tions; (2) medical inspection and school nursing: (3) recreation; to 



32 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

include playground centers, special facilities for congested districts; 
(4) publicity and information relative to conditions, laws, ordinances, 
health regulations, vital statistics, and morbidity as applied to chil- 
dren. 

Health charts. — Exceptional work has been done in Connecticut. 
Charts have been prepared to show the influence of conditions upon 
the health and welfare of children, one for city or town, one for 
village or country. The ideal set for the State is a public nurse in 
every community. Neglected and insanitary rural schoolhouses are 
also receiving special attention, and leaflets have been prepared for 
the study of health conditions in rural schools. 

Legislative work in one State. — The Department on Child Welfare 
in Rhode Island worked for the passage of four bills relating to 
health conditions of children. The first is aimed to establish a Child 
Hygiene Department in the State board of health. The second is to 
provide for a .reexamination of working children between 16 and 18 
years of age and physical standards for all children. The third 
is to grant a pension to mothers. The fourth is to license midwives 
and to empower the State Board of Health to regulate the practice 
of midwifery. The legislative chairman of the committee is at the 
State House every day in the interest of child-welfare legislation. 
Classes have been formed to study child-welfare conditions in dif- 
ferent localities of the State. 

DEPARTMENT VII MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. 

C ooperation with social; welfare agencies. — The Department of 
Maintenance of Existing Social Service Agencies was created for the 
purpose of furthering the social work of organization which were 
in existence before the war. 

Purposes. — It is a self-evident fact that appeals which have arisen 
in the unusual conditions caused by the war quickly arouse the 
sympathies of the people. Regular contributors to specific charities 
often withdraw their support and apply their contributions to a 
new cause. The existing institutions for relief of social and economic 
abuses have greater burdens because of increased cost of materials, 
increased number of appeals, and added to these often the decrease 
in funds for support. As a result local charities and philanthropic 
measures suffer. The State Divisions were asked by the Department 
Woman's Committee to form a Department to prevent the occurrence 
of this very possible situation. Forty-two States, the District of 
Columbia, and Hawaii have complied with the request. In several 
States the work has been most carefully planned to suit the local 
conditions which maintain. 

Plan in operation in Illinois. — The Department in Illinois is com- 
posed of a representative from each of the following institutions: 
Social-service hospitals, day nurseries, churches and social settle- 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 33 

ments, united charities, medical charities, protective work, convales- 
cent homes, visiting nurses, infant-welfare vacation work, industrial 
schools, home-finding societies, Catholic charities, and Jewish chari- 
ties. Subcommittees were formed for advisory and publicity pur- 
poses, volunteer and group services, State cooperation, and speakers 
for public meetings. Through private contributions outings for in- 
mates of 29 institutions were furnished. Knitting material was fur- 
nished to groups in prisons and in hospitals. Volunteer workers have 
been furnished in social-service centers and in cooking classes and 
in teaching English to immigrant workers. This department has 
placed 686 volunteers in social service since November in 79 agencies, 
representing 17 types of service. Social-training courses for social 
workers have been instituted in many cities, and attention is being 
given in a number of States to standardizing the requirements for 
volunteer workers. 

Survey of nurses. — The greater demand for nurses that is evi- 
denced as the war progresses has brought to the attention of this 
committee the imperative need for preparation for maintaining a 
supply for the normal home service. Assistance in conducting a 
survey has been given the State Nurses' Association in Colorado, 
Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ne- 
braska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Nurses have been supplied for mili- 
tary service as well. In Massachusetts 100 picked nurses were sup- 
plied for the Emergency Hospital and were given military standing 
by the governor of the State. Nebraska prepared a list of institu- 
tions in the United States, with the requirement for entrance and 
graduation for training in nursing. Nearly 200 recruits for the 
training in hospitals were secured to make up the shortage caused 
by 350 trained and registered Red Cross nurses who have been called 
for cantonment and over-seas service. 

Public-health classes. — The Public Health Committee, which is a 
subcommittee of the committee on maintenance of existing social 
service agencies, in Virginia, has conducted classes for the study of 
the prevention and spread of communicable diseases. These courses 
have been held as follows: 

Suffolk : 

White 40 

Colored 6° 

South Boston class -- 

Fauquier County, 4 classes, each 25 100 

High Springs, 1 class 

Glen Echo, 1 class 

Doswell, 1 class -•' 

292 



34 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

The classes were held each week, when neighborhood health prob- 
lems were discussed. State board of health bulletins were issued to 
them and supplementary reading was supplied through the State 
library. A question box was kept and the questions were submitted 
to the State board of health. The original plan was to have each 
member of the class conduct a survey of the health conditions of her 
neighborhood; the report was to be submitted to the Woman's De- 
partment, which was to consult with the State officials as to further 
procedure in the war. 

DEPARTMENT VIII HEALTH AND RECREATION. 

Cooperation with commission on training-camp activities. — The 
Department of Health and Kecreation was originally called depart- 
ment of safeguarding moral and spiritual forces. The purpose of the 
department is to cooperate with the commission on training-camp 
activities in making provisions for conditions for the protection of 
health and for facilities for recreation in camp and camp vicinities 
for men in military and naval service. The Departments in the State 
Divisions have been active in raising funds for maintaining Y. W. 

C. A. hostess houses, for the Y. M. C. A. drives, and for camp 
libraries; 45 chairmen of State divisions, the District of Columbia, 
and Hawaii have a Department in their respective . States to carry 
on this work. 

Recreational centers. — Assistance have been given the Fosdick 
Commission, the Y. M. C. A., and the Y. W. C. A. in maintaining 
recreational centers in every State in which there are camps located. 
The Department in New Jersey has acted as a clearing house in plac- 
ing soldiers' clubs, which were opened by various organizations. 
Four clubs were established and financed by the following women's 
clubs: Woman Suffrage Party, State Federation of Woman's Clubs, 

D. A. R., and National League for Woman's Service. These clubs 
are in charge of hostesses and light refreshments are served at cost. 
In Bergen County, N. J., the Woman's Committee has several clubs 
at the embarkation camps. Eight cantonment towns in Texas have 
recreational canteens for the convenience of the soldiers and the 
aviators. 

Entertainments. — A very general form of work has been to pro- 
vide entertainments, consisting of musicals, movies, dramatic read- 
ings, vaudeville, lectures, etc., at regular intervals during the week 
or month. Provisions are made for distributing delicacies and ad- 
ministering to the needs of patients in base hospitals. Homes are 
canvassed for lists of hostesses for the entertainment of soldiers on 
Sundays and holidays. 

Protective work for girls. — A survey of places of entertainment in 
camp vicinities was conducted in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 35 

Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio 
Oregon, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas. Out of this 
work has developed plans for protective work for girls. In Connecti- 
cut the chairman of the committe was appointed State police woman 
by the governor of the State, with power to appoint four assistants. 
The women in Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, 
and Kentucky have asked that women police be stationed in every 
dance hall, that closer surveillance may be maintained. 

The municipal government in Norwich and New London have 
made provisions for the employment of a police woman in each city. 
In Indianapolis, Ind., a woman officer has been appointed to assist 
in the work in camp vicinities. The police board of commissioners 
in East St. Louis, 111., have given a police woman the rank of sergeant 
and promoted four matrons in the department to the rank of proba- 
tionary police women. Six additional police women have been ap- 
pointed to work under the direction of the newly made sergeant. 
The chairmen of the Department in New Mexico, Texas, and Penn- 
sylvania report that through the efforts of women workers police 
women have been appointed for protective work of women and men 
in camp vicinities. Twelve women have been detailed to this work 
in Philadelphia. 

The Department on Health and Recreation in Colorado appealed 
to the governor of the State for assistance in carrying out the wishes 
of the Secretary of War in cleaning up cities near camps. An in- 
vestigation was then started by the governor and the United States 
district attorney. Women police have been appointed in Denver, and 
conditions have been approved. The formation of girls' clubs has 
been another means of preventing vice. Members of these clubs 
are pledged to definite standards of conduct with regard to men 
in uniform. In many States the Department is assisting in forming 
girls* clubs for furnishing wholesome recreation. 

Social hygiene. — The Department in California, Connecticut, Illi- 
nois, Minnesota, and Maryland has arranged for classes in social 
hygiene for girls. Exceptionally good work has been done in Chi- 
cago, 111., among girls employed in factories. Twenty-six women 
doctors have been placed on the committee, giving special attention 
to this work. 

Camp libraries. — The committee has also assisted in procuring 
libraries for camps. In Connecticut 16,000 books were collected for 
the American Expeditionary Forces in France. A woman's army 
was organized for the work in one of the counties in California, and 
a house-to-house canvass was made in the interest of collecting books. 
In Philadelphia County, Pa., books were collected for libraries on 
the battleships Iowa, Indiana, and Massachusetts. 



36 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Assistance of religious and secular organisations. — Acknowledg- 
ment is made by every committee on health and recreation of the 
value of the cooperation of the religious and secular clubs in pro- 
moting that which has been accomplished. The Department realized 
that but a beginning has been made in this work that must be done 
in connection with camps and cantonments. 

DEPARTMENT IX EDUCATIONAL PROPAGANDA. 

The chairman of the Department of Education was not appointed 
until the 1st of October, 1917. Before this date, however, many State 
divisions had begun such educational work as local conditions war- 
ranted. A wider range of interests was shown in the State plans 
than has been emphasized by the national department, which has 
limited its activity to educational propaganda concerning the war. 

National plan educational propaganda. — This definite phase of the 
work was adopted because of the evidence of widespread ignorance 
concerning the reasons why we are at war and what winning or 
losing will mean to the country. 

On October 6 the chairman sent a request to the State divisions 
for the appointment of a chairman of educational propaganda in 
each State and outlined a plan upon which to begin the work. She 
proposed that the executive committee of each State division "should 
call a State-wide meeting of all officers, department heads, and county 
chairmen. These meetings were to extend over from one to three 
days, according to the locality, and all the women of the State were 
to be invited to attend them. They were to be devoted to discussions 
of the war work of women in the day sessions, and in the evening 
meetings to propaganda speeches upon the general theme, " Why we 
are at war and why we must win." She further suggested that the 
county chairmen should hold similar meetings in their towns, that 
classes should everywhere be formed to study the causes and effects 
of the war, that women should be equipped to speak, and that when 
so equipped itineraries for them covering all the towns of the State 
should be laid out, the ultimate aim being to have every person in 
the country understand the meaning of this war. 

In pursuance of these requests, chairmen of educational propa- 
ganda have been appointed in every State in the Union save three, 
and in Hawaii. In most of the States the work of creating an intelli- 
gent public opinion concerning the war has been active and effective. 

The constantly increasing energy and enthusiasm of the chair- 
men of educational propaganda in the States daily become more 
apparent. The growth of the spirit of cooperation has recently been 
very marked. Every State has been active in promoting the patri- 
otic work of all organizations. Thousands of patriotic meetings, 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 37 

large and small, have been held all over the country, and the num- 
ber of women who have developed into convincing speakers is a 
hopeful indication that an active effort is making to put before the 
entire country the information necessary to arouse ardent patriotic 
enthusiasm. 

Speakers' bureau.— -Every effort has been made to stimulate the 
formation of a speakers' bureau in every state. Twenty-nine States 
have such a bureau in active operation. Chairmen have been ap- 
pointed to supervise the work in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, 
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska. 
New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ten- 
nessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. In addition to these States the 
formation of bureaus and the activities of special speakers have been 
reported from Alabama. California, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Utah, 
and Washington. Still more States have women who are constantly 
active in public speaking, but have not yet reported the formation 
of a bureau. In some States the women are working with the 
speakers' bureau of the State Council. 

At the request of the chairman of the speakers' bureau in Arkansas, 
December 23-30, 1917 was proclaimed loyalty week by the governor. 
The State Council of Defense cooperated and 600 speakers organized 
and held meetings in different counties throughout the State. The 
speakers' bureau in Connecticut has supplied speakers for Italian. 
French, and Polish audiences at war rallies and has organized teams 
to reach the Slovak and Russian women with propaganda. Other 
States have done equally good work in speaking to foreigners. Illi- 
nois has American women who are speaking to German women in 
their native tongue. In this state factories, churches, stores, fra- 
ternal orders, religious and secular associations have been supplied 
with speakers to the extent that it is estimated that 262,000 people 
have been reached through the activities of this department. An 
appropriation of $100 per month has been made from State funds 
for this work in Missouri. 

The National Department of Educational Propaganda has made 
a special effort to assist such states as need assistance in acquiring 
the necessary information to carry on their work. It has secured 
printed matter concerning the war and its problems from the Com- 
mittee on Public Information and from other Government depart- 
ments and Federal agencies and has sent out more than 400,000 
pamphlets and bulletins in aid of this propaganda. It has also had 
prepared a special outline of topics for study of the war, many 
thousand copies of which have been sent to libraries, clubs, and in- 
dividuals in the. States, and in Hawaii, Porto Rico, Canada. Aus- 
tralia, New Zealand, and the Philippine Islands. 



38 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Americanization. — Inasmuch as more than one-third of our men 
subject to draft can not speak English, and there are more than 
2,000,000 German-born mothers in this country, no propaganda is 
more important than the Americanizing of our foreign-born people. 

When the Council of National Defense indorsed the plan of Amer- 
icanization proposed by the Bureau of Education in the Department 
of the Interior this department of the Woman's Committee joined 
with the State Councils Section in requesting its State officers to form 
a joint committee in each State for this work. They were asked to 
do everything possible to promote uniform activity on this Federal 
plan and to urge all agencies already established to give it their full 
cooperation and the benefit of their influence and organization. 

Many of the States have responded promptly to these requests, and 
nearly half of them are already forming such joint committees on 
Americanization and are receiving the cooperation of most of the 
organizations already at work. 

Later a program of work was sent out urging the establishment of a 
state-wide War-Information Service for Immigrants as a foundation 
for a great variety of work among foreigners and suggesting ways in 
which to organize for this service. This also has been received cor- 
dially by the States, and they are beginning to establish offices for this 
work. 

Many of the States were already doing excellent work in Ameri- 
canizing their foreign population, and they are still most active in 
teaching the foreign born to speak our language and understand our 
ways and our ideals. 

The Woman's Relief Corps of Wisconsin has organized with a 
membership of 9,000 and is giving patriotic entertainments to newly 
naturalized citizens. Minnesota has outlined the work of Ameri- 
canization under four headings for work among women, as follows: 

1. Study of English. 

2. Naturalization of single women. 

3. Teaching American ways of living. 

4. Teaching loyalty. 

Local committees in Carlton, Freeborn, Hennepin, Lincoln, Pen- 
nington, and Pope Counties have reported this special work. An 
exhibition of articles made by foreign-born women was arranged in 
the public library of St. Paul to stimulate an appreciation and in- 
terest in the handiwork of the immigrants. One evening was devoted 
to the entertainment of these women, at which time an effort was 
made to impress upon them that the library as an American institu- 
tion was for their use. These are illustrations selected at random 
to indicate the activities in this work of even the smaller communities. 

Pamphlets on Americanization have been issued in California and 
other States. 



JtEPORT WOMAN 's COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 39 

Naturalisation. — Notable work has been done among the foreign- 
born women in bringing about an understanding of how to become 
citizens of the United States. In Nebraska the committee issued a 
concise statement of reasons why foreign citizens should become 
naturalized and a simple analysis of the legal procedure necessary 
to do so. These were used as a basis for instructing hundreds of 
men and women how to become citizens of the United States. The 
committees on Americanization in California and Minnesota and 
other States where the women vote are working toward the naturali- 
zation of foreign-born women. 

Rural educational propaganda. — Educational propaganda in rural 
communities has been specially emphasized by this department. 

In cooperation with the county superintendents many hundreds 
of rural school-teachers in selected localities have been written to 
personally and asked to hold patriotic meetings in their communi- 
ties. Along with this request this department has sent them sug- 
gestions for programs, material for recitations, words of patriotic 
songs, short speeches already prepared, and pamphlets with informa- 
tion for their speakers, which they have been asked to read and pass 
on to others who will read them. 

An outfit similar to that for teachers has been sent on request to 
hundreds of women in rural communities who wished to hold patri- 
otic meetings. Reports have been received of several hundred such 
meetings held, both by teachers and others, and there is reason to be- 
lieve that many others have been held which have not been reported. 
Reports of them are coming in daily. Many of these reports evidence 
a loyal and patriotic community. Others indicate the necessity for 
much educational propaganda, and these are followed up. 

DEPARTMENT X LIBERTY LOAN. 

Cooperation with Nati&rial Woman's Liberty Loan Committee, 
Treasury Department. — Another large activity in which the Woman's 
Committee assisted was in the sale of liberty bonds. At the time the 
first bonds were offered for sale the Treasury Department recognized 
the fact that women would greatly help in the work, and accord- 
ingly organized the National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee. On 
this committee were two women who are also members of the Woman's 
Committee of the Council of National Defense. The latter Commit- 
tee, however, had been so recently created that little assistance as an 
organization could be rendered at the time of floating the first loan. 
The two committees, however, agreed that the National Woman's Lib- 
erty Loan Committee should nominate to the Woman's Committee, for 
transmittal to the Executive Committee in each State division, a can- 
didate for the chairmanship of the Liberty Loan Department of the 
State division. The liberty loan chairman in each State was to work 



40 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

under the direction of the National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee, 
but a report of the work was to be submitted to the Executive Com- 
mittee of the State division of the Woman's Committee and to the 
chairman of the Federal reserve district chairman in whose territory 
the State was included. 

Organisation of liberty loan committee. — At the time of the second 
drive the organization of the Woman's Committee in the State divi- 
sions was well under way, and this machinery formed a direct avenue 
from the Treasury Department and National Woman's Liberty Loan 
Committee to the women in the towns. The liberty loan chairman 
representing the two national committees proceeded to organize 
county and local committees for the sale of liberty bonds. As no 
distinctive mark was used to denote bonds bought or sold by the 
women, the exact amount of their sales can never be known. The 
National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee has, however, made the 
following report : 

Summary of resources.— 

Financial returns from States, averaged. 1 

Total amount subscribed by and through women, " actual ac- 
count " (36 States) $214,214,077 

Average amount per State 5, 950, 391 

Total amount for United States directly credited to women's 

work, based on average per State 285, 618, 768 

On basis that amounts reported on woman's blanks represent 
only one-fourth of amount actually subscribed by and through 

women, total amount due to women's work in United States 1, 142, 475, 072 

Total subscription to second Liberty loan. United States 4, 617. 532. 300 

On basis that one-fourth total subscription was due to women's 
work (in States where bankers estimated results due to 
women's work, one-fourth to one-third is average percentage 
credited in this way) 1,154,383,075 

Attention is called to the fact that — 

" The estimates made by the National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee of 
total amounts due to women's work in the entire United States, and the bankers- 
estimates in those States where such an estimate was made, arrive at approxi- 
mately the same figures for the estimated total of women's work in the United 
States." 2 

The Liberty loan chairmen have reported the excellent work done 
by their speakers and assistants in the distribution of posters, source 
books, primers, and letters to stimulate the sale of bonds. 

In many States women's clubs rendered valuable assistance in the 
sales. In Maryland, thrift clubs were formed, and pledges to save 
from $50 to $1,000 were made. The county chairmen in many in- 
stances made a house-to-house canvass for sales. 

"Children's day."— In the District of Columbia the woman's com- 
mittee closed with a " Children's day," adopting the slogan, "A mile of 

1 Page 27, Report of National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee. - Ibid., footnote, p. 27. 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 41 

nickles.'' Children from public and private schools, orphan asylums, 
and various clubs and institutions came in a body at different hours 
of the day to bring: their nickles for the big bank in the form of a 
liberty bell. The money was used to purchase Liberty bonds which 
were contributed to the fatherless children in France. The children 
were in some instances in costumes of historical character, and so 
added to a special feature to the program. 

Returns in Nome. — An interesting report was made by the chair- 
man in Nome. Alaska, where the men and women worked together 
in the few hours of daylight and sold $97,000 worth of bonds to a 
town of less than a thousand winter residents. In the towns of 
Juneau and Fairbanks, as well, the women organized and did notable 
work. 

Thrift-stamp campaigns. — The Liberty-Loan Department in many 
States continued after the close of the second campaign and conducted 
the sales of war saving stamps and thrift certificates. Interesting 
devices for stimulating the sale of stamps are reported from Cali- 
fornia. Connecticut. Florida, Idaho. Illinois. Rhode Island, South 
Carolina. Washington, Wisconsin, and Hawaii. In Woodland. Cal.. 
a Chinaman bought a $5 war saving certificate and advertised it 
among his countrymen as a good investment. As a result, the pur- 
chase of $5 certificates became a popular movement in that city. In a 
mountainous district of Santa Clara County a woman walked 16 
miles one day to carry out her orders in selling stamps. The Italian 
high school students of this same county are acting as interpreters 
in making sales among non-English-speaking Italians. The women's 
committee in Hawaii has organized a corps of 13 speakers for war 
saving propaganda. Addresses on the subject, in English or Japa- 
nese, are made before every assemblage of women. Many ingenious 
methods have been adopted to increase the sale of Avar saving stamps 
and encourage thrift. There are nine thrift clubs in the city of Bal- 
timore and each of the 23 counties has a liberty loan chairman with 
a corps of workers — with 37 thrift clubs organized. The Woman's 
Liberty Loan Committee meets every Monday morning. During the 
months of January and February 33 meetings were held in the inter- 
est of war saving stamps, 27 clubs were established, and $ 1 7. .".22. 14 
worth of stamps were sold. 

Minute women were organized to sell war-saving stamps in Wash- 
ington. The women of Chelan County organized a two days' drive 
and sold $10,000 worth of stamps in this rural county, the population 
of which is 15,000 people. 

Third liberty-loan drive.— The third liberty-loan drive is in prog- 
ress, and returns have not been made. 

There can be no doubt but that the results obtained by the efforts 
of the women will exceed those of the second drive. The chairmen 



42 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. _ 

of the State committees have in many instances reported a com- 
mittee in every county ; and in addition to a perfected organization 
is the cumulative experience derived in previous drives and in sell- 
ing war-saving stamps. 

DEPARTMENT XI HOME AND FOREIGN RELIEF. 

Cooperation with American Bed Cross Association. — The major 
part of the work accomplished by the Department of Home and For- 
eign Relief has been done in cooperation with the American Red 
Cross Association. Departments have reported as engaged in this 
work in Hawaii, Alaska, and in every State in the Union with the 
exception of Maine. The unit in Petersburg, Alaska, collected funds 
for the purchase of wool, and knitting has been general in other 
towns of the Territory. 

Objects. — The regular work of preparing surgical dressings, col- 
lecting funds, knitting for sailors and soldiers, making comfort kits, 
assisting the families of men in military and naval service, and 
organizing courses for first aid and for home nursing has been most 
appealing to the State Departments. Registrants in States taking a 
census of women have been directed to the Red Cross as volunteer 
workers. In addition to these Red Cross activities, many States 
have assisted in raising funds for relief of French wounded, the 
adoption of French orphans, and in the collection of clothing for 
women and children in the devastated regions of France. 

War relief league. — A division of this work has been carried on 
by the war relief league in Colorado Springs, Colo. This group of 
women has been preparing hospital supplies for weekly shipment to 
France. On an average, 3,600 articles have, been shipped each 
week directly to the surgeons for whom they are especially made. 
The D. A. R. chapters of the State have helped in the rehabilitation 
of the French village Tulloloy by rebuilding and refurnishing the 
homes and making it possible for the inhabitants to resume their 
work. The same society has assumed the maintenance of 25 French 
orphans. 

Other States reporting the adoption of French orphans are Ar- 
kansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. 

Work of subcommittees.— One branch of the work in Illinois has 
been done by the Franco- American committee for corrective surgi- 
cal appliances. The chairman of this committee has received the 
cross of the Legion of Honor. Her work has been extended through 
many French hospitals. Another division of the Home and Foreign 
Relief Committee in the same State is the national surgical dressing 
committee, which acts independently but ships its product through 
the agency of the American Red Cross Supply Service. This Depart- 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 43 

ment has shipped 52,429 dressings, costing $2,584.74. The Ameri- 
can fund for French wounded has, during the year, collected 
$132,359.07; has maintained an automobile in France for the dis- 
tribution of supplies, and has equipped two dispensaries. The 
monthly shipment of supplies has averaged $11,197.08 in value; this 
expressed in material totals 453,485 articles packed in 3,859 cases: 
$18,031.06 has been forwarded in cash. 

Still another subdivision of this Department in Illinois is the one 
which raised $100,000 in three months for the fatherless children 
in France. From this fund approximately 3,000 children are re- 
ceiving support. 

Preparation for emergency work. — An emergency corps of doctors 
and nurses has been organized in New Haven to cooperate with the 
Red Cross and Home Guard Emergency Corps. The details of the 
work are complete, even to the registering of all conveyances, drivers 
of conveyances, all large receiving rooms and depots. Practical 
nurses have been registered to fill the places of trained nurses who 
are performing war service. 

In Boston, Mass., a commonwealth armory has been fitted up so 
that it can be converted into a war emergency hospital. It is so 
planned that 450 beds can be made ready at two hours' notice. The 
corps of 100 trained nurses, previously mentioned in this report, are 
to be in readiness for service at a moment's call. They are pledged 
to accept no position outside of the State and not to leave the State 
without permission during the period of the war. At the time of 
the Halifax disaster the women of this Department and affiliated 
women's organizations rendered valuable assistance to the Red Cross. 

Affiliated club reports. — The chairman of the Georgia division has 
received the reports of the activities of 101 affiliated clubs. Effec- 
tive assistance has been given to home and foreign relief work by 
the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of 
the Confederacy, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the 
Colonial Dames, women's religious societies, and other associations, 
numbering in all 42 organizations. The Colonial Dames in North 
Carolina gave an ambulance for field service in France, $543.50 for 
a hospital ship, and equipped the crew of the S. S. North Carolina 
with knitted sets. 

These special reports but indicate in the smallest way the work 
that has been done and is continuing by women in every part of the 
United States. Relief work makes a special appeal; the results of 
individual effort expended in making bandages or in knitting can 
be seen and handled ; with but a slight stretch of the imagination the 
actual service rendered can be comprehended. The very apparent 
application of the results of each person's work has contributed 
largely to the numerical increase in output and in workers. 



44 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OP NATIONAL DEFENSE. 
DEPARTMENT XII — NEWS. 

Purpose of the news department. — The success of group action, 
such as that involved in work of the Woman's Committee of the 
Council of National Defense, which involves the voluntary action 
in concert of masses of people, depends largely upon individual 
understanding of the purpose of the movement. Such understanding 
is conveyed by the spoken and written words and involves the erec- 
tion of definite machinery to carry the work among a people scattered 
over a territory so extensive as the United States and its insular 
possessions. The Woman's Committee realized this fact and estab- 
lished a news department for the dissemination of information 
concerning its aims and activities. 

Plan of work. — The plan of the News Department has been to 
reach the public by means of the daily press, both from headquarters 
and from State sources, by magazine articles, through editorial com- 
ment in periodicals, and by a News Letter. 

News]?aper publicity. — -Daily news stories are given to the Com- 
mittee on Public Inforation. and news further disseminated through 
other available agencies — for instance, the Associated Press, the 
United Press, the International News Service, etc. 

Articles of general interest are mailed at intervals direct to selected 
lists of newspapers. Forty-three State divisions have reported sys- 
tematic publicity work under publicity chairmen. Several States 
have reported the development of a local publicity corps — for ex- 
ample, California has 44 subchairmen, Utah 35, Maryland 17, Ar- 
kansas 17, Louisiana 28, Iowa 17, and Arizona 3. This considerable 
publicity corps sends out daily news in Illinois, Michigan, and 
Maryland. Eleven States send out weekly releases. 

Press releases intended to follow up campaigns of particular im- 
portance are sent from Washington to publicity chairmen and State 
chairmen in all the States. These are often remimeographed in the 
State and distributed direct to newspapers or placed in the hands of 
local chairman, who see that they reach local papers. 

Six other States, in which no regular publicity corps has been 
appointed, have secured regularly reserved space on the woman's 
page of leading papers for weekly articles, prepared by women 
writers who, in effect, constitute themselves the publicity corps under 
the direction of the State publicity chairmen. Material is dissemi- 
nated in this way in Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, Massachusetts, 
Iowa, and North Carolina. 

The country papers in many States use articles prepared by the 
State Division. Wisconsin supplies material direct to a plate service, 
serving many small papers in the State. 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 45 

The official bulletins of the State Councils in the 16 States carry 
news of the women's work furnished by the publicity chairmen in 
their respective Division. In Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn- 
sylvania, and Tennessee the woman's committee has issued a special 
bulletin devoted to committee activities. 

Magazine publicity. — Articles and editorials on the work of the 
Department, some of which are prepared by individual members of 
the Committee, are appearing each month in leading magazines. 
Direct results are being obtained in this way. Women have written 
to headquarters, both National and State, asking to help in the work 
of which they have read. Data on the work are furnished to maga- 
zine writers for articles for their periodicals, and again results follow. 

News Letter. — The News Letter was originally called the Bulletin 
and was designed primarily as an exchange of news of the interesting 
work which women were doing in the State divisions. From a 
three-page mimeographed sheet the News Letter has developed to an 
eight-page printed journal, which appears semimonthly. It has 
reached the twentieth issue. It is sent free to all State, county, and 
local chairmen, the heads of their working departments, and a 
limited press list. 

Foreign news bureau. — The news department in August, 1917, 
created a foreign news bureau. A flying squadron of translators has 
since that time culled from journals from all parts of the world items 
concerning women and children. This material has appeared in the 
News Letter and has been released to the public through various 
writers and through the Committee on Public Information. Ar- 
rangements are practically complete for sending it out to publicity 
chairmen and heads of our information bureaus all over the United 
States to furnish them with comparative and suggestive accounts of 
the work of foreign women, in order that women's work in America 
may benefit. 

Bureau* and publications of the State divisions. — In several States 
an information and library section is incorporated in the publicity 
department. The work of the information committees in Illinois, 
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and California has been to collect, to index, 
and to distribute among local libraries data relating to economic and 
social problems of importance to women. Current periodical and 
clipping notices also are carefully collected for the files at head- 
quarters. 

Special pamphlets and bulletins have been prepared and published 
by the Department in several States. Notable work in this line has 
been reported from California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Utah, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The need of concerted action 
has been emphasized in these publications and appreciable results 
have been evidenced in the State reports. 



46 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

SPECIAL WORK. 

National. — In addition to the specific work of the regular depart- 
ments, the Woman's Committee has responded to the requests for 
assistance which have been made on occasions by governmental de- 
partments. 

Cooperation with Civil Service Commission. — A special letter was 
sent to approximately 4,000 women asking them to advertise the fact 
that the Civil Service Commission was finding it difficult to meet the 
demands for clerical help of the different departments in Washing- 
ton. The State chairmen report that notice to this effect was given 
in local papers in the State, and in some instances it is known that 
young women responded to this appeal. Since the responses were to 
the State civil service commission, no statistics on this subject are 
available. 

Commercial economy hoard.— Another service rendered was the 
assistance given to the Commercial Economy Board of the Coun- 
cil of National Defense in the attempt to reduce the number of 
deliveries. The object was to release men for other service and to 
assist in the general economies concomitant with fewer deliveries. 
Again the response was very general and the State chairmen of the 
Woman's Committee have reported public meetings and newspaper 
publicity to create public sentiment in the direction of this economy. 
In some instances special meetings with merchants were held for the 
purpose of working out a cooperative plan of delivery. 

SKi'pbuilders^ campaign. — Acting on the request of the Shipping 
Board for cooperation, the Woman's Committee of the Council of 
National Defense telegraphed to the chairmen of every State divi- 
sion to enlist the help of all women's organizations in enrolling men 
for shipbuilders by announcing the fact that the Government was 
in need of skilled mechanics for shipbuilding. The response was 
gratifying, and the Woman's Committee in the States assisted the 
State councils of their divisions in the enrollment of men for ship- 
building. 

SPECIAL WOKK LOCAL. 

Organisation of negro women. — A special division has been formed 
among negro women in Florida. It is called the Colored Section of 
the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense. The 
work is under the leadership of a capable colored woman, who is 
registering the women for service and teaching food conservation 
among the colored people. Negro units are doing war work in Colo- 
rado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, 
Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

Motor messenger service.— The work that has been initiated by the 
State divisions to meet local conditions has been varied. Notable 



REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 47 

work has been done in instituting the Woman's Volunteer Motor Mes- 
senger Service in Troy, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, and New York 
City, in New York State; in Chicago, 111.; and in nine counties in 
Maryland; in Delaware and in Wisconsin. This service has been of 
value in the food and liberty-loan drives, and is always at the dis- 
posal of Red Cross and other foreign relief agencies. In Chicago 
regular service is rendered in carrying crippled children to clinics. 
The volunteers in this work are pledged to be in readiness certain 
hours of the day, and are fined when there is failure to meet this 
obligation. 

Fuel administration. — The Woman's Committee in the local or- 
ganizations in Baltimore, Md. ; Chicago, 111.; Providence, R. L; 
Kalamazoo, Mich. ; was able to assist the local fuel-administration 
representative during the fuel crisis. Ward leaders in Chicago were 
appointed and placed in charge of investigating appeals for coal and 
in delivery of bags of coal to the cases in need ; 16,339 orders of coal 
were filled by these women. In Providence, R. I., 150 women went 
from house to house to solicit coal for the relief of those in need. 
They succeeded in collecting over 115 tons of coal in two days. The 
motor-corps service of the Providence Red Cross Chapter assisted in 
the work of distributing the coal. 

SUMMARY. 

The foregoing is an account of the method and extent of the or- 
ganization perfected and the partial results accomplished by the 
Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense during the 
first year of the Committee's existence. It is in no way a complete 
record of all that has been affected, but is offered as a suggestive 
putline of the variety of phases of work that has received the atten- 
tion of the American women. A minimum amount of details have 
been included, but further information concerning any portion of the 
work will be given upon the request of anyone who is interested. 

Results are never all that might be attained and these are in no 
way exceptional. Such results, however, may serve as a measure of 
the effectiveness of the organization which produced them; and at 
the same time they may reveal the weaknesses in the machinery which 
can be perfected through constructive effort rightly applied. Taken 
as a whole even this inadequate account of the work attempted and 
accomplished by the Woman's Committee of the Council of National 
Defense operating through the 12 departments in 11,267 units, 
demonstrates that the Committee is an effective power for the use 
of the Federal Government in summoning the American women to 
service at the time of an international crisis. 






NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED ON THE HONORARY 
COMMITTEE OF THE WOMAN'S COMMITTEE, COUNCIL OE 
NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

Alliance of Unitarian and other Liberal Christian Women. 
American Fund for French Wounded. 
American Home Economics. 
American Nurses' Association. 
American Red Cross. 
Association of Collegiate Alumnae. 
Camp Fire Girls. 

Catholic Alumnae, International Federation of. 
Children of America, Loyalty League. 
Children of the American Revolution. 
Child Welfare League, International. 
Colonial Dames of America, National Society of. 
Council of Jewish Women, National. 
Daughters of American Revolution, National Society of. 
Daughters of the British Empire. 
Daughters 1812, National Society, United States. 

Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, National Society of. 
Daughters of the Revolution, General Society of. 
Florence Crittenton Mission, National. 
Garden Club of America. 
General Federation of Women's Clubs. 
Girls' National Honor Guard (Inc.). 
Girl Scouts (Inc.). 
Kindergarten Union, International. 

Ladies' Auxiliary Order of Railway Conductors of America. 
Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
Ladies of the Maccabees. 
League of American Penwomen. 
Medical Women's National Association. 
Militia of Mercy. 

Mothers and Parent-Teacher Association, National Congress of. 
National American Woman Suffrage Association. 
National Association of Colored Women. 
National Association opposed to Woman Suffrage. 
National Council of Women. 
National Federation of College Women. 
National Federation of Music Clubs. 
National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. 
National League for Woman's Service. 
National League of Women Workers. 
National Library for the Blind. 

National Women's Medical Association, Committee on War Relief. 
National Women's Trade Union League. 
National Special Aid Society. 
48 



f 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 49 

Needlework Guild of America. 

New Century Club. 

Order of the Eastern Star, General Grand Chapter. 

People's Aid Association, International. 

Pythian Sisters. 

Royal Neighbors of America. 

Southern Association of College Women. 

Stage Women's War Relief. 

United Daughters of the Confederacy. 

Woman's American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. 

Woman's Auxiliary Railway Mail Association. 

Woman's Benefit Association of the Macabees. 

Woman's Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. 

Woman's Board of Foreign Missions. 

Woman's Board of Missions. 

Woman's Bureau. National Democratic Committee. 

Woman's Christian Temperance Union, National. 

Woman's Department of National Civic Federation. 

Woman's Evening Clinic. 

Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Woman's Missionary Council Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

Woman's National Farm and Garden Association. 

Woman's National Press Association. 

Woman's National Rivers and Harbors Congress. 

Woman's National Sabbath Alliance. 

Woman's Relief Corps. 

Woman's Section. Navy League. 

Woodcraft League of America. National Girls' Work Committee. 

Young Woman's Hebrew Association. 

Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association. 

Y. W. C. A., National. 



BULLETINS, CIRCULARS, LETTERS. 

CHILD WELFARE. 

104. Apportionment of Quota. February 11, 1918. 

126. Child Welfare Committee of General Medical Board. April 3, 11)18. 

110. Conference of chairmen, announced February 27, 1918. 

110a. Conference, transmittal of announcement. 

131. Cooperation with American Red Cross. April, 1918. 

32. Enforcement of general child-labor law. August 17, 1917. 

33. Enforcement of child-labor law urged upon State chairmen. August 7, 1917. 
95. Organization plans for children's year. February 6, 1918. 

107. Home health volunteers plan. February 21, 1918. 
129. President's letter, transmittal. 
87. Program for children's year. January 31, 1918. 

34. Questionnaire re children of school age. 

120. Weighing and measuring test. March 13, 1918. 

EDUCATION. 



103. Americanization of aliens. February 15, 1918. 

117. Americanization agencies national list. March 12. 1918. . 

61. Americanization information requested. October 25, 1918. 
105. Americanization pamphlet transmitted. February 16, 1918. 

90. Campaign and speakers. February 1, 191S. 
68. Cooperation of affiliated organizations. November 24, 1917. 
136. Commencement topics. April 20, 1918. Enclosure list of topics. 
54. Educational propaganda outlined. October 6, 1917. 
54a. Letter of transmittal. 
83. Transmittal. S3 a-b. 

83a. Educational propaganda report requested. 
S3b. Educational propaganda questionnaire. 
62a. Pamphlets for distribution. 

62. Letter of transmittal re. 62a. 

68a. Outlines for war work study in clubs. November 24, 1917. 
80. On founding speakers' bureau. 

54. Requesting appointment of education chairman. 

79. Reaching German speaking people. Enclosure State Council Circular. 
109. Speakers, information for. February 23, 1918. 
108. Speakers, outlines for use of. February 23, 1918. 
122. Speakers, war-service school. 

135. Works of department. April 19. Inclosure General Federation Magazine, 
March. 

FOOD ADMINISTRATION. 

85a. Appointment of Mrs. Lamar in the department. February 4, 1918. 

55. Bulletins transmitted. October 6, 1917. 
16. Canning letter. July 6, 1917. 

44. Chairman list of Food Administration requested. September 20, 1917. 
43. Change of date of food-pledge drive. September 20, 1917. 
50 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 51 

20. Conservation letter. July, 1917. 

9. Cooperation with Mr. Hoover, conservation letter. July 22, 1917. 

30. Food-pledge campaign questionnaire. 
85. Home cards. February 4, 1918. 

100. Home cards. February 9, 1918. 
37a. Hoover letter of appreciation. August 21, 1917. 
37. Hoover letter, transmittal. August 29. 1917. 

31. Instructions re food-pledge campaign. August 15, 1917. 
6. New way to save bread. 

6a. New way to save bread, transmittal. August 1, 1917. 
82. Promotion of food leaflets. January 29. 
79. Promotion of food leaflets, transmittal. 

21. Save bread. August 1, 1917. 

State conference of Representatives of Federal departments and adminis- 
trators. March 7, 191S. 
41. Second food drive. September 8, 1917. 
70a. Second food-pledge campaign, questionnaire. 
70. Second food-pledge campaign, transmittal. November 29, 1917. 

FOOD PRODt'CTION AND HOME ECONOMICS. 

24. Chairmen and executive secretary of department announced. August 
7, 1917. 
132. Dehydrated vegetables. April 11. 191S. 
132. Enclosure, dehydrated vegetables and fruit, manufacturers of. 

24. Food posters distributed. August 7, 1917. 

58. Food posters, transmittal. October, 1917. 

64. Food leaflet. Department of Agriculture, transmittal. 
102. Invitation to conference. February 11, 1918. 
130. Liberty gardens. April 5, 1918. 

130. Enclosure, Common Sense in gardening. April 5, 1918. 
130. Enclosure, Liberty-Garden pledge and record card. 

76. Request for reports of department work. Dec. 15, 1917. 
121. Report of conference. March 22, 1918. 

89. Substitution of women for men in farm work (Southern States). January 

31, 1918. 
89a. Substitution of women for men in farm work (Northern and Western 
States). January 31, 1918. 
128. Woman's land army. May 12, 1918. 
128a. Enclosure, " The Woman's Land Army."' 

HEALTH AND RECREATION. 

134. Commission on training-camp activities. April 18, 1918. 

93. Data to date. February 11. 1918. 

67. Funds for camp activities. November 20, 191-7. 
134. Enclosure, Employment of Woman in Military Camps. 

52. Instructions and information. October 11, 1917. 
124. Questionnaire re work in State. March 20, 1918. 

40. Purpose of department. 

HOME AND FOREIGN RELIEF. 

77a. Letter of transmittal. December 17, 1917. 

77. Plan of organization. December 17, 1917. 



52 BEPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

LIBERTY LOAN. 

39. Plans for drive. September 5, 1917. A. H. S. 

MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. 

63. Instructions and information. October 31, 1917. 
63c Opportunities for service. October 31, 1917. 
49. Purpose of department. October 1, 1917. 
123. Questionnaire on committee work. March 24, 1918. 
63b. Questionnaire re survey. March 24, 1918. 
63a. Survey suggested. October 31, 1917. 

NEWS. 

125. Cbild welfare follow-up. March 22, 1918. 

71. Cooperation requested of publicity departments in States. November 27, 

1917. 

96. Cooperation with child welfare department. February 8, 1918. 
73. Information re organizations requested. December 10, 1917. 

118. Labor standards. March 14, 1918. 

57. Liberty loan issue, transmittal. October 11, 1917. 
81. Libraries. January 15, 1918. 

97. Press releases transmitted. February 8, 1918. 

119. Request that name of State be specified in News Letter. March 13, 1918. 
106. Scope of function of State publicity. February 19, 1918. 

ORGANIZATION. 

3. Advantages of the plan. May, 1917. 

10. Affiliated national organizations, revision. February 4, 1918. 

112. Annual election of officers. March 5, 1918. 

28. Appeal for cooperation of national organizations of women. August 14, 
1917. 

4. Appointment of temporary chairman. May, 1917. 

88. Concentration of work through existing organizations. January 29, 1918. 
8. Conference of national organizations of women called. June 19, 1917. 

72. Cooperation with States recoordination. November 20, 1917. 
2. Department explained. August 23, 1917. 

7. General plan. 
42. Local chairman, lists requested. September 20, 1917. 
94. Mailing list for News Letter. February 4, 1918. 

1. National organization explained. May 5, 1917. 

2. Plan of national organization. May 23, 1917. 

13. Questionnaire re Personnel and Machinery of State organizations. 
13a. Letter of transmittal, 13. 

11. Questionnaire re State units of affiliated organizations. 
11a. Letter of transmittal. 

46. Resident director announcement. September 29, 1917. 
53. Relation of national organizations. October 6, 1917. 

12. State chairmen lists. October 6, 1917. 

113. State organization. March 9, 1918. 

17. Status of State division of woman's committee July 14, 1917. Transmit- 
ting letter from section on cooperation with States. 
56. Bulletins and charts, transmittal. October 11, 1917. 



REPORT WOMAN S COMMITTEE COUNCIL. OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 53 

REGISTRATION. 

26. Distribution of cards, further instructions. August 8, 11)1 T. 
15. Instructions re registration. July 2, 1917. 

14. Purpose of registration. 

48. Registration for service. September 27, "HUT. 

47. Registration for service, letter transmittal. October 1, 1917. 

27. Summary blank form. August 8, 1917. 

27a. Summary blank form, letter transmittal. August 8, 1917. 



134. Commission on training-camp activities. April 18, 1918. 

111. Concerning bimonthly reports. March 5, 1918. 
83a. Educational propaganda. January 21, 1918. 

76. Food production department. December In. 1917. 

74. Outline explained. December 10. 1917. 

74c. Outline for reports. December 10. 1917. 

60. Six months' report, first request. October 25. 1917. 

74. Six months' report, second request. December 10, 1917. 

21. Special activities. August 1, 1917. 

74a. Suggestions for keeping reports. December 10, 1917. 

WOMEN IX INDUSTRY. 

115. Conference of State chairmen. March 9, 1918. 
Inclosure General Orders. No. 13. by Chief of Ordnance. 

115a. Conference of State chairmen. March 1. 1918. 
133. Report of conference. April 11. 1918. 

Enclosure conference of State chairmen. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

112. Annual election of officers. March 5, 191S. 

116. Book campaign. May 12, 1918. 

99a. Bulletins issued by State Council. February, 191S. 

66. Christmas message to the women of America. November 19, 1917. 

38. Church federation. September 7. 1917. 

50. Civil-service examination. October 6. 1917. 

51. Civil-service examination, supplementary. 

91. Communication to State division. February 8. 1918. 

36. Community centers. August 22. 1917. 

69. Community Center Magazine. November 26. 1917. 

18. Concentration of work through existing organizations. January 29. 1918. 

99. Concerning circular letters. February 8, 1918. 

65. Cooperation with committee on nursing. November 8, 1917. 

72. Cooperation with State, bulletin re coordination. November 30, 1917. 

78. Cooperation with State councils of defense. December 19. 1917. 
Enclosure bulletins No. 78 and No. 7!t. 

79. Cooperation with State council of defense, transmittal of bulletins 78 and 

79. January 7, 191S. 
101. General letter transmitting bulletin No. 84 and general letter No. 40. 

5. Letter concerning distribution of the Presidents message. May 29. 1917. 
45. Library fund campaign. September 21. 1917. 
113a. Lovejoy report. March 20. 1918. 



54 REPORT WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. 

94. Mailing list for News Letter. February 4, 1918. 
127. National conference. March 30, 1918. 

10. National organization. 

Enclosure call to national conference. 

22. Nursing, Letter on. August 1, 1917. 
125. Poster on food, letter. August 7, 1917. 

22. Publicity service examination requested. October 6, 1917. 

18. Reduction of deliveries. 

18a. Reduction of deliveries, transmittal of 18. 

59. Reduction of deliveries, resolution transmittal. October 22, 1917. 
59a. Resolution of reduction of deliveries. 
75. Soldiers in Europe. December 11, 1917. 
29. Soldiers' insurance, summons, Alexander bill. 
113. State organization department. March 9, 1918. 
35. " What one town has done." August 20, 1917. 
35a. " What one town has done," transmittal. September 9, 1917. 

19. Why the Woman's Committee. July 30, 1917. 



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